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HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OF THE 



VILLAGE OF BATAVIA, 



BY 



WILLIAM SEAVER. 



BATAVIA: 

rRINTEU BY VVM. .SEAVKR & SON. 

184!». 



>svni 



;b3 s'fe 



OF THE 



VILLAGE OF BATAVIA 



As the reminiscences of "Olden Times," which we have occasionally 
published in the "Spirit of the Times," have been received with favor, we 
now propose to sketch a brief history of the Village of Batavia, from its 
birth in the primeval forest, to what it now is, one of the loveliest in the 
State. We do this, not for any special pre-eminence which it has attained, 
but because it is the oldest Village West of Genesee River, from whence, 
as from a common centre, radiated the settlement of the "Holland Purchase." 

The early history of any place is always worthy of preservation, espe- 
cially, as in this case, when it is so intimately connected with the early his- 
tory of the surrounding- country; and as many of the facts and incidents 
which we propose to detail, have never been written, we are anxious to res- 
cue such oral traditions from oblivion as we are now able to collect from 
living witnesses, "before they go hence to be no more seen." 

For such facts, we are chiefly indebted to the letters of Joseph Ellicott 
and Paul Busti, and to James Brisbane, David E. Evans, Richard 
Smith, Trumbull Gary, and Hinman Holden, all old residents of this 
place, especially Mr. Brisbane, who is not only one of the first settlers in 
this Village, but has also resided longer on the "Holland Purchase," than 
any other white man now living. 

As the Hon. Joseph Ellicott was the Father and Founder of Batavia, 
it is due to his memory, no less than to the subject, that we go back a little, 
and trace some of the events with which he was connected, and which 
led to its foundation, and the settlement of the country. 

In the latter part of the Summer of 1.797, Mr. Ellicott came from Phi- 
ladelphia to Geneseo, to attend a Treaty with the Indians at that place, 
when the lands West of Genesee River were purchased from them by Rob- 
ert Morris. The Treaty was concluded in September of that year. He 
came alone, and on horseback, by way of Wilksbarre, Tioga Point, Bath 
and Dansville, and returned to Philadelphia in February following, having 
in the meantime made arrangements to commence the survey of the Hol- 
land Company's Lands. 

He left Philadelphia again in May, 1798, for this region, accompanied 
by his brother Benjamin Ellicott, and Edenezrr Cary. He came on 



horseback, the same route as before, passing by tlie way of Avon to Buffalo, 
where he arrived early in June, and established his head-quarters for tlie 
season, on the spot where the Mansion House now stands. 

On the 18th of April, 1798, James Brisbane and John Thompson left 
Philadelphia, with a supply of stores for Mr. Ellicott, and the surveyors 
on the "Purchase." They came by the way of New. York, Albany, the Mo- 
hawk River, and Wood Creek, to Oswego, and thence through Lake Ontario 
to the mouth of Genesee River, in Batteauxs, where they arrived on the 1 6th 
of May. Mr. Brisbane here separated from Mr. Thompson, and went up 
the Genesee River to Williamsburgh, with one Batteaux loaded with stores 
for the "Company,"' and Mr. Thompson proceeded by the way of Queenston 
to BufTalo, with the balance of the stores. Mr. Brisbane remained at Wil- 
liamsburgh, (between Geneseo and Mount Morris,) until the following Oc- 
tober, and then removed with the stores to what is now the village of Staf- 
ford, where an establishment was continued until the 2d of January, 180O, 
when the party, consisting of Joseph Ellicott, Benjamin Ellicott, 
James W. Stevens, Ebenezbr Cary and James Brisbane, left that station 
and returned to Philadelphia. 

In March, 1799, Joseph and Benjamin Ellicott went to Philadelphia, 
for the purpose of conferring with the General Agent, (Paul Busti,) and 
arranging for a continuance of the surveys. They returned the same 
Spring, bringing with them James W. Stevens. Mr. Ellicott went to 
Buffalo, where he remained until the survey was completed, in the Fall 
of that year,, and then came to StafTord. In January, 1800, he returned to 
Philadelphia, as above stated, foi the purpose of making a Report of the 
surveys, and on the 1st day of November, 1800, (his birth-day, being forty 
years old,) he was appointed Agent of the Holland Land Company. 

In November, 1800, Mr. Ellicott left Philadelphia, and came by the 
way of New York, Albany, he, to Buffalo, where he arrived in January, 
1801. lie remained there a short time, and then removed to Ransom's Tav- 
ern, in what is now called Clarence, where he opened an office for the sale 
of the Holland Company's Lands. By reference to his letters, written at 
that place, we notice that he sometimes dated at "Ransomville," at others, 
"Ransom's," "Sweet Water Farm," "Pine Grove," and West Genesee," 
at the same time Buffalo was known as "New Amsterdam," and also as 
"Buffiilo Creek." 

From the best information we can obtain, it would appear that early in 
1801, probably in January or February, Mr. Ellicott fixed his mind upon 
this place, (Batavia,) as the most eligible spot for locating the Land Office, 
and building up a Town, and tlie first intimation we discover of such 
intention, is in a letter to Richard M. Stoddard, Canandaigua, dated at 
"Ransomville, 17th February, 1801," in which he says: "I expect to make 
my establishment at or near the Bend of Tonnewanta, and there let the 
Genesee Road fork, one to be directed to Buffalo and the other to Queens- 



hm, and place my office in the fork looking- Eastward. Should yoti be in- 
clined to improve a forty acre Lot there, you can liave it." [The "Fork" 
is where the Arsenal now stands.] 
■ In an other letter bearing upon the same subject, dated "Ransom's, March 
6, 1801," and addressed to Ezra Waitb, Esq,, he says: "In respect to the 
Lots at the Bend of Tonnewanta,they will be laid ofFin the early part of the 
Spring. The Road will be laid, (I expect,) from the new Bridge to the 
Big Plains; I think likely in the course of two or three weeks, and probably 
some Lots at the Bend; but previous to any selection, I shall set apart such 
of them as I shall conceive best calculated for Public purposes, but never- 
theless, there will be a great sufficiency left for yourself, and other of your 
friends, after the selection so made,"' 

In a letter to Stephen Russell, Bloomfield, written about the 10th of 
May, 1801, Mr, Ellicott says: "I expect, shortly, to have all the Lots 
laid out at the Bend, Since I saw you, I conceived it best to postpone them 
for the present, in order to attend to laying out a piece of Road before the 
leaves become so thick as to prevent us from seeing the country. However, 
Mr. Russell may feel himself perfectly safe, >Should I not be able to 
furnish him with a Lot fronting on the Creek, it shall not exceed one 
Lot from it," 

THE FIRST BUILDING IN BATAVIA. 

We now come to an important era in our history. It jappears from the 
above, that early in 1801, this place was determined upon as the site for 
a Village, and the permanent location of the Land Office, and as this fact 
was undoubtedly soon promulgated, several people were attracted here for 
the purpose of taking a look, with the view of making it a place of resi- 
dence, and among them was a man of tlie name of AbelRowe, 

Mr. RowE, arrived in March, 1801, located himself on the Lot directly 
opposite the present Land Office,and immediately thereafter raised the first 
Building which was ever erected in this Village, of any description. It 
was situated on the spotnow occupied by the Dwelling House of the Hon. 
Horace U. Soper, 

We are unable to describe this Building, further than that it was a large 
Log House; that on being completed it was occupied by Mr. Rowe as a 
House of public entertainment, and that soon it was dignified with the name 
of "Rowe's Hotel," as appears fromthe Postcript of a letter from Mr. El- 
licott, to "John M. Minor, Genesee," respecting some Pork, dated "West 
Genesee, May 12, 1801," in which he says: "A line forwarded either to the 
Transit Store-House, or Mr. Rowe's Hotel, at the Bend of Tonne wanta, 
will come to hand." 

Soon after this, Stephen Russell, put up a Log House, on the spot 
where the "Genesee House" now stands, which was the second Building 
erected in this Village. It may be well to mention also, that in March, 
1801, the late Isaac Sutherland erected a Log House on the farm where 



kK &■% mom TcriAr^ tma miies West of the TUfa^c^ and tkat in tike suae 
■oMfc ihehSfr Ges. Wonarl^ Cbcboku. aodCioL Ws. Ro^bt. seeded 

OB tke &r5a* asce viiEck t^v ksi? r^^died. tiiee laiks East of tJiis rilUgp, 

SCAKECw THE TTXi^eS. 

As ihai » »— I fill !■ fste mKaea^vad uttc H sati^ cnimBcted vi^tlua 
evcM. we slall be oaiAned far ie&uSmg saA puticaius as k&Te oone 
^kr oar sotiee^ aai viack ve daiie dueflrioaca tke letters of Mr. £k^ 
ucarrr. asd Mr. BcBTi. The &st sakiaB of Ae aaiiject, wUck we caa 
d tocum. fe m a ktier fica Josstb Euucott. to PaEi.Bcsn. dated '^West 
GoKsee. (Sann^&) 30ik Mar. 180] * Ib this kesa;s: ^Fiabog it es- 
tiiMJ i iatwmj i ul. Hvi^ fiw the Poet Road. I am aknl; BskiBg an 
: tkeROB." [A Po^ Roole kad premo^ faea eetabfidbed, 
fioM Piaiirfiiiiiilij liiiii to ike BeHL(Bua;via)and finm tkeace 
IhuMgh tke =l^fhiB&-«aitiheTiwi utwt* lai6mMlLesaTatiiBm,toUsm- 
ktoaL] <=Ieoallha«evishe^kai«<ecei^6raplafeeMDKe oeMtial inmyfis- 
tnctftrtfe Q ».. »-i« airi Baffijo Soad to kaTOfttkBdy kat ^eTon- 
^?«aaia. Sesemtka prveafted. Tiii i ilikiii fcwa Hi aiH keataate in tke 
lafc Ta>»^kiy airfai tiigr. Tte TonevaMz Cxeek. a stieaia of «»- 
terW fert ra kiiaiik, wil fVE Ama^ Oe Town, at tke Westenex- 

liiMJIj rfakkk, Ih TwBMnrt TudiUfrTTuMftn fa tfcj- i trj- "^ ^^""^r oms 

^e^^ teQaecBetai^ ni U|rper Caaada, and die oderto Nev Ai^CeidaB, 
l: --ir ~^-g ead ef Lake Kn^ Presqae I^ and Xer Cccaeeticvu 

~ T I-^ :^r I>3Gs «i!lcaaiain-M)afaesoilaBd,:30peRkeBinfipaHl,aBd 
jir '£ - <"d i ^ m T of laa^ wd tj diivauA to laiae hinidj 
TIk place keo^ tke ftat esta Hi-k— K, andcaie 
_-._ _:.-^— -: —ntolkerwfaeke AanahrarsawdlsftBBlBdVil- 

li^e. aad pec ^ : :«B«T-Ta«ii. andaPoetTavB. as soam as I 

can kK«« a : . : . - in Ofice. I szj. ^vm afl Aese<»c^B- 

^stance c^ Mr. LfcoELAHr caOnp kia 
:•»? \eacve to c widii ait tkie plaee vilk 
Ae^uaeafl. ~ • - -t:^. ScTenl LoSs az? abeodr spcdxn for. 

biepirt: ■" " - : V,. E^^::— -i- ii- 

of =¥yb^ : -i= >e -f : i: 

To«vt: 7 . T 

to set a^ 
to l&a£ : 

hmgme.: .-^. 

a ) 111 I * &xXm A T:Mr'<r^ =~. ■ ' ■-? wiiTy is. ' 

B Msmi ig i*a» Ae fcraef ■ • - :r?reived : > --_- r:.^ ? _ -: .>^ - 



p•rr:e^I::^::sd tbe redctririzce ^ Re :;._■_ . ___;::::: 

r_rr- TQcir?. T&s if &e nsEd pe«»». as rrr ^tJ:^ r? 2 

prsieipai iainKtaaf. aai m sams ~ \ 

'^esc, put oC tlie faafe aOowe^ t.: -.'' 

Fkenoss toftEree^Cof dieaiKpre je~ ~7 «iqie s^za ft> 

Mr. BrsTL <bted "^Jtseamm. West G?Sr-5€ -•11,^ la wfe& h^ 

ajs: Ht L§ with pfeaaare tfaot I aci3(?wjeir? 'jje^ r^rript « jtjkt feazr ef 
tfe 3i Jsae. wlik& case to ktad rae TV- -- — — - ' — ".-iayaaE 
tfce Tows or Bcsxxa ob. Bcs:xvtu£^ at f hne- 

vttkcBcioeed. "AeoDBLatiuB oftiBS, V:- ~- 

t^HBg' Ta« vtt Ike mfaenaEiaBpjBfec 

Feom tkis extiact, ve anfc (ad^ kaza i: l : : 

plaeeBi^ia or Btt-tiiffl ewftatabo t&epar': 

dai^e^ as will appear feii« tie iSkmrz^ fn— ; 

Ti. dbted ^^EaKOB's, We^ Gaeaesg JkLj e: - 

Lstteraftfe2-fi&BlEiBoIkadtiepJeisE^ — 

.^ADo^aBceBjla^oftbe I^oric-.:!^ 1 : 

Bisxitixx& I bafcaullK^Bev i:^a;:(£Ir^ >a2e§ 

I helcas c u n ua i te h jtoget to eaih- iff in. 7:^1 

piMlgiiiilVrtfca£BaiaE,«Mito ^Saem 7 

Aat I ^all BOt xsB tfe i^ ef toot <fef '.^ : ^ 

tioB to iBBsr tie piaee \j snias' f^ so ^ - : . . 

Bi.i«u*u. iJg coaveys to fte Mad ;■:—"-• -r ' 

5?oiaaABr rr^i's if'ie -TTi O^rry^iij^^^ir : -.- 1;. ;;i t^ - ■ - -r - 

rsare so.' 

Ik wriSiB^ tt- losy Th " ■ ' = ?■. ! ...-:■ ; _ .- " ■ 

C<HBiif8iidgt2. re 5i7"~: ~- -ii - •-- :": :. 



ts ill — : ■ - - - ■ ; lirr. 



weeks, and make sliingles and cover the House in a good and substantia! 
manner* I could have wished it done sooner, but am of tiie opinion this 
is the shortest period* If the roads were not too bad to bring some laths 
from the saw mill it Would be better shingle on than to split stuff. How- 
ever, if laths cannot be procured by the period the shingles are made, I 
suppose rived laths will have to do* 

"P. S, — The pitch of the roof to be Iniddling flat* 1 enclose a Plan of 
ToNNEWANTA which you wiU find is at last modified agreeably to my ideas 
when last there; that is, to have the Public Square in the forks of the Big 
Tree and Connewaugus Roads*" 

[The precise point of these Forks, is at the centre of the Gate in front 
of the Hon. David E. Evaxs' present Dwelling House, and the Roads lea- 
ding South, and West centred at, and started from, the same point.] 

Our object in copying the above letter almost entire, at this point of our 
history, is for the purpose of showing that our village was once called 
Tonnewanta; but as we shall soon have occasion to speak of the"HousE" 
to which it refers, we hope the reader will bear the letter in mind, as that 
Building, when completed, became of no less consequence than the focus 
of the Holland Land Company. 

Having thus shown the various names by which the Town had been 
designated, we now come to the time when its present name was first inti- 
mated, and which, we find was in a letter from Mr. Busti to Mr. Ellicott, 
dated "Philadelphia, 6th August, 1801." Mr. Busti introduced it in this 
wise: "By the sketch of the Town whose name deriving from mine, I 
wish you to suppress, and to change to that of its Founder, or if you pre- 
fer IT, INTO THAT OF BATAVIA, I am apprized of its favorable situation. 
There is no doubt of its rapidly increasing, as all the conveniences of life 
will soon be found united on that spot. I approve of the cheapness of your 
prices for the lots, but as it may induce people to speculation, I leave 
it to you to consider whether it would not be advisable to oblige the pur- 
chaser to build a convenient House, in a fixed period, on each Lot. 

"The site of your office is chosen with judgment, and I hope will stop 
all the travellers to the West, to make bargains with you. I suppose 
that in the neighborhood of the office you will take 500 acres, the half 
of the 1000 allowed to you according to contract." 

The next mention we find of Batavia, is in a letter from Mr. Ellicott 
to Mr. Busti, dated "Ransom's West Genesee, September 8th, 1801," in 
which, after acknowledging the receipt of the above letter, he says: "In 
respect to the Lots in the Town of BATAVIA, I had anticipated your 
idea. I dispose of none but to absolute settlers, and only one Lot to one 
man. 

"My intention in laying out tliis Town was for tlie purpose of forming 
a compact settlement, and should I dispose of four or five Lots to one 
man, my object would be defeated; and if the place siiould ever become 



of much importance, tlie purchaser of a Town Lot will be enabled to 
speculate upon part of his front, which I conceived would be a sufficient 
inducement to encourage the settlement of the place. In respect to the 500 
acres, thehalf of the 1000 allowed by contract, I have not as yet fixed its 
boundaries." 

Previous to the receipt of Mr. Ellicott's last letter, Mr. Busxi again 
writes to Mr. Ellicott, "23d September, 1801," in which he alludes to 
the name of the Town, as follows : — 

"In reading over the suppositions of Le Favre, I observe he com- 
prehends in his speculations some Town Lots at Bend. I conclude this 
to be the name you gave to the Town laid out in Township 12, and that 
you have taken it from the Bending of the Creek and the Main Road. — 
Please to tell me whether I am in the right, in order to distinguish it on 
the map." 

The next allusion to the name of Batavia, is in a letter from Mr. Elli- 
cott to Mr.BusTi, dated "West Genesee, Oct. 3, 1801," which is as follow-s: 

"In my last, of the 12th September ult., (written at Canandaigua,) I 
promised to write you immediately on my return to my office in O., (Ran- 
som's,) at which place I expected to arrive in a few days, but on my 
arrival at BATAVIA, I found it necessary to remain there to stimulate 
the hands employed in the erection of a MILL DAM at that place; my 
Brother who has that business in charge, being at times, in consequence 
of indisposition with a slight fever, unable to attend to it. In conse- 
quence thereof, I was detained so long that I did not reach my quarters 
here, until the 30th ultimo." 

We now come to the climax of this part of our subject; the definitive 
pTomulgation of Batavia, as the name by which this Village should 
be known through all time. It is disclosed, (we may say authoritatively) 
in a letter from Joseph Ellicott to Paul Busti, which is dated "BATA- 
VIA, 7th November, 1801." As this is undoubtedly the first letter 

EVER WRITTEN AT THIS PLACE UNDER THE NAME OF BaTAVIA, it is WOrthy 

of special notice, and not for this circumstance only, but for the annouce- 
ment which it makes of the name, as well as for other interesting facts. 

The following are extracts from this letter: — 

"Batavia, 7th Nov., 1801. 

"I have delayed writing until this period, with a hope that I should have 
been enabled to inform you that the Saw Mill we areerecting at this 
place, to accommodate the settlement with boards, was in motion, but in 
this I am disappointed. This season has been extremely unfavorable for 
business, in this part of the country, as well on account of the continual 
rains, as that of almost the whole of the people in this infant settlement 
having been afflicted with the Billious and other Fevers, which circum- 
stance has greatly retarded all our operations, as well as the scttleuiont, 
and add to thecataJoguc of our misfortunes. 



10 

''Tho snow coininonced faliing tlie night before lant, and in now ten iii- 
clies deep. I am happy, however, to be enabled to inform j'ou, that amidst 
all the difficulties we have had to contend with, the Saw Mill is in such a 
state of forwardness, that without something very extraordinary occurs, 
we shall be able shortly,, to supply the settlement with boards, an article 
much wanted. ****«_***** 

"In regard to the name of thrs place, it heretofore was called the Be>'d, 

from the circumstance of the Bend of the Creek, and is generally known 

by that name, but I have BaitiZed it by the Name of Batavia.*' 

"Having as yet not removed my office from Mr. Ransom's, I am unable to 

detail particulars of the Agency." 

The Village having thus received its name, we proceed to notice mat- 
ters in general, connected with its growth. Trifling as some of them may 
appear, it should be recollected that we are not writing a national history, 
in which nothing but leading and great events are detailed, but are simply 
attempting to trace the progress of a country village, from its origin in the 
wilderness. For this purpose, the leading events w^hich transpired here, 
consequently become of the same comparative importance, as those of na- 
tional consequence, when writing a national history. 

The Saw Mill, at that period, had become an object of great solicitude. — 
Its construction seems to have progressed quite slowly, but it was com- 
pleted about the middle of December, as appears from the following 
extract of a letter from Mr. Ellicott to Mr. Busti, dated "Ransom's, De- 
cember 4, 1801," in which he says: "The Saw Mill I have been erecting 
at Batavia, which' has cost a deal of labor, not being a natural seat, but a 
place where a convenience of this kind is absolutely necessary, will, the 
millwright informs me, be in motion, by the 10th instant; at which period 
we expect to begin to make ourselves and the settlers comfortable floors, fcc. 
which will be a great acquisition to our present situation." 

This Saw Mill was situated directly above the present Grist Mill, and was 
kept in operation until about 1822, when it was torn down. 

As there was no Pine Timber nearer to the Mill than at a place then 
called "the Pinery," now "Pine Hill," in Elba, six miles distant, and as a 
great demand for that kind of lumber was anticipated, Mr. Ellicott em- 
ployed Isaac Sutherland to cut a road to the "Pinery," and the job was com- 
menced on the 18th of January, 1802. 

In regard to the Building to which reference has been made, as design- 
ed for theLand Office, it appears to have been completed some time in 
December, 1801. It was a two-story Log Building of respectable dimen- 
sions, and situated directly in front of the West wing of D. E. Evans' pre- 
sent Dwelling House, between it and the Road,and in rear of it a kitchen 
or Log House was erected, for the accommodation of Mr. Ellicott and 
his household. On being completed, this establishment was immediately 
occupied by John Tiiomfson and otliors in the employ of tlie Company, as 



II 

a hoariliac; place, but Mr. EiiLicoTT did ijot remove his office from llan- 
fioiu's until the following Spring, as will appear hereafter. 

CUTTING THE ROAD THIIOUGH THE VILLAGE. 

There being no regular Roads at this time, Mr. Ellicott engaged 
John Lamberton, who was associated with a man of the name of Mayo, 
to cut the Road through the Village of Batavia. The contract was made 
at "Ransom's," on the 20th of February, 1802, and Mr. Lamberton, (who 
is now living in this vicinity,) informs us that he returned to Batavia the 
next day, with Mayo, one of them bringing on his back a Tent, furnished 
by Mr. Ellicott, and the other a Keg of Whiskey, They immediately 
commenced the job, which was, to cut the Road 100 feet wide and two miles 
long, from the West bounds of the Village, (where the Arsenal now 
stands,) and for this service, according to Mr. Lamberton's statement, 
they w^ere to receive Twelve Dollars per acre.' It was completed in May 
following, and that Road was, and ever will be, the Main Street, from East 
to West, through the Village of Batavia. As Mr. Lamberton's contract 
simply required him to cut down the Timber, and cut it up fit for logging, 
it was left for others to clear it oif, and according to his recollection, that 
labor was chiefly performed by the owners of Lots bounded on the Road, 
during the Summer of that year. 

Thus was our beautiful "Genesee Street" opened Forty-seven years 
since, and Mr, Lamberton, who performed th'e work, and Mr. Brisbane, 
who furnished him with Provisions while thus engaged, are still living 
amongst us, and witnesses of the wonderful transformation which this place 
has undergone within that period. From a dense Forest, they have seen a 
beautiful Village arise, and the whole surrounding country they have seen 
converted from an unbroken wilderness into fruitful fields. 

It appears that at an early day the importance of having a Grist Mill at 
this place had occupied the attention of Mr. Ei^licott, but the first allus- 
ion to it which we can discover is in a letter from him to Mr. Bustj, dated 
"Batavia, Feb. 28th, 1802," and forwarded by his brother, Benjamin 
Ellicott. In this letter, after aljudingto some business matters which his 
brother would explain, he says: "His object is also to procure suchneces- 
earies in the Lower Country, as will be required for the completion of the 
Grist Mill erecting on accouut of the Company, and also to procure, if 
practicable, a good Mill- Wright to construct the running gear of said Mill." 

The building of this Mill seems not to have progressed very rapidly, 
as, we are told, it was not completed until the latter part of 1804. 

new county GENESEE. 

Soon after Mr. Ellicott had determined to locate the Land Office and 
build up a Town at this place, he conceived the idea of procuring a Division 
•of Ontario county to which Bata^ ia then belonged, and of erecting a new 
County, with Batavia as the CounU' Sent, Ilis first movement to accom- 



1:J 

plifih that object is disclosed in a letter to Dudley SALTONSTALr,,Esq,dated 
at "Canandaigua, February 24th, 1802," in which he requests that gen- 
tleman "To draw a Petition for the Division of the County of Ontario, in 
which the Genesee River and the meridian drawn from the Forks of Shanaha- 
squaicon Creek and Genesee River, to the Boundary Line of Pennsylvania, 
shall be the Eastern boundary of the new County, to be called the County of 
, and to extend to the Western part of the State of New York."' 

In another letter written at the same place, February 25, 1802, addressed 
to David A. Ogden, Esq., he says, in reference to the Division : "The 
object is so important, as it regards the interest of the proprietors of lands 
West of the Genesee River, that I conceive it proper to make the attempt, 
and for that purpose mean to carry a Petition to the ensuing TownMeeting, 
and procure as many signers as the short period will admit. * * * * 
Since you mention to Mr. Saltonstall that there is a probability that we 
can effect a Division of the County, I will endeavor to meet you in Albany, 
about the middle of March for that purpose. « * * * The conduct of 
the Supervisors of the County is of such a nature that makes it indispen- 
sible to effect a Division, if practicable. * * * Should it be out of my 
power to attend, I shall forward the Petition by a person who is so well 
acquainted with every circumstance, and the territory in question, that it 
will be near the same thing; therefore I hope no circumstance will prevent 
your attending." In writing to Mr. Busxi, from Canandaigua, March 1st, 
1802, Mr. Ellicott further says: "I expect to meet Mr. Ogden in Albany, 
the middle of this month for the purpose of trying to effect a Division of 
the County." 

Having judiciously attended to all the preliminary arrangements, Mr. 
Ellicott started for Albany about the 1 0th of March, to lay the subject 
before the Legislature, and to secure the favorable action of that body, and 
the success of his efforts may be seen in the following extract of a letter 
to Mr. BusTi, dated "City of Albany, March 27th, 1802," in which he says: 

"Mr. Ogden will inform you of our success in carrying the Law for the 
Division of the County of Ontario, through both Houses of the Legislature. 
It, however, has to pass the Council of Revision, and as it is in their power 
to negative the Law unless two-thirds of both Houses shall ultimately agree 
to it, it cannot be said to have passed, until it gets through the fiery ordeal 
of that body. The Governor being one of the members, and one of the 
Agents [of the Holland Company recently treating his Excellency a little 
roughly, may have an influence not favorable to the object. It was a little 
unfortunate that this circumstance took place at this epoch. Many mem- 
bers of the Legislature have spoken to me on the subject, and it has required 
all my ingenuity to impress on their minds that the Company, and their 
General Agent, was of the same Politics of the present prevailing party in 
this country. As soon as the Law passes the Council of Revision, I shall 
send you a copy." 



13 

On the 1st of April, 1802, Mr. Ei.i,icott again wrote to Mr. Busti, from 
Albany, as follows: ''I herewith enclose a copy of the Act entitled "An 
Act to erect part of the County of Ontario into a separate County, by the 
name of Genesee." 

"I mentioned to you in my letter of the 26th ult., that I had some doubts 
of the passage of the Law for the Division of the County, through the 
Council of Revision. I therefore took occasion to pay some attention to 
his Excellency the Governor, and remove some unfavorable impressions; 
since which, the Law has passed that body, and is safely lodged in the 
Secretary's Office, out of all danger," 

We have been thus particular in reference to this important event, not 
only to show when, and by whom, it was accomplished, but as being 
intimately connected with the early growth and prosperity of Batavia, 
in consequence of its having been designated in the above Law as tJie 
County Seat of the new County of Genesee. 

Soon after the passage of this Law, Mr, Ellicott returned to the County 
of Genesee, and some time between the 10th and 20th of April, removed 
the Land Office from Ransom's to the new Building erected for tlmt purpose 
in Batavia. 

COURT HOUSE A-VD JAIL. 

His attention was then immediately given to the erection of a Court 
House and Jail, in order to carry out in good faith the pledges made to tiie 
Legislature, as stated in a letter from him to Mr. Busxi, dated Batavia, May 
8, 1802, in w^hich he says; "I am happy in the promptness with which you 
have agreed to carry into effect the erection of the Court House and Jail, 
as stipulated to be erected at the expense of the Company, by Mr. D. 
A. OebEN and myself. This stipulation was one of the principal induce- 
ments towards our effecting the passage of the Law establishing the new 
County. This money I conceive to be well laid out, for had we not have 
procured this Act for establishing the County, and bounded it as we have 
fortunately done, the Company would, in all probability, have had to^erect 
another Court House and Jail, as well as that at Canandaigua, at their 
expense, and in which they would have been but little benefitted. 

"It was in contemplation by Mr. James Wadsvvorth, and interest 
was actually making for that purpose, so to divide the County of Ontario, 
as to make his residence in the Town of Hartford, (now Geneseo,) on 
the Genesee River, the County town of a County." * * * * 

"In regard to the Court House and Jail, your ideas perfectly accord with 
my own, in erecting them in such a manner as will be the most economical, 
and at the same time answer well the purposes intended. I have received 
a Plan from New York, which my friend D. A. Ogden, was kind enough to 
procure from an Architect of that place. It is not, in my opinion, calculated 
for the meridian of this Western World, this Century, but might probably 
answer for the meridian of the Cities of London or Amsterdam." 



( 5 



14 

In pursuance of his ubject, Mr. El.i.icott employed Isaac SuTuKRr,A>n 
&nd Samukj, F. Gekr as Chief Architects, and resolved to adopt his own 
plan, as appears from the following extract of a letter to Mr. Busti, dated 
June 4th, ]S0'2: 

"We are now preparing to commence the erection of the Court House, 
and lind, after trying all the various plans that have suggested themselves 
to uur minds, that the cheapest and best plan will be, to make the Court 
Mouse and Jail, and Jail-keeper's House, under one Roof, and to erect the 
iJuilding of ^VoQd. Brick would be much more costly, but the Brick of 
this country is scarcely fit for Buildings, unless kept constantly covered 
thick with paint and oil. The Brick moulders away in a few years. 

"This Building, however, will cost considerable. I shall, as soon as 
the Carpenters have made an estimate of the Timber, be" able to calculate 
nearly the expense, which will not be so great at it otherwise would if 
we had no Saw Mill. The site fixed on for the Court House W'ill be 
within 250 yards of the Mill, and of course there will be nuich expense 
saved in transporting Plank, Timber, &lc." 

The work was prosecuted with vigor, and the latter part of October or 
first of November the Frame was set up. The raising was a Herculean 
tarik of three days, and in consequence of the sparseness of population, 
required all the uten that could be mustered in the surrounding country, 
even from Bufialo, The timber w'as exceedingly heavy, being almost 
exclusively Oak, and we are told that the workmanship was so perfect, 
as to elicit the admiration of every one who saw it. Not the slightest 
mistake was discoverable, and when the frame was put together, every 
joint was as perfect as mallet and chisel could make it. It stands yet, a 
proud monument of mechanical skill and architectural beauty, and we 
trust that the time is nigh at hand, when, through the judicious liberality 
of the Board of Supervisors, and the public spirit of the Town of Batavia, 
this fine old Building will be rejuvenated, and converted into a Tow:< 
House. Such a House is very uuich needed for various public purposes, 
as all are aware, and it is due to the County, to the Town, and to the 
memory of the past, that this Building should be thus honorably appro- 
priated. 

The Building was enclosed in the Fall of 180*2, and the finishing had so 
far progressed that the first sessions of the Courts after the organization 
of the County were held in it, in the Spring of 1803. It was not finished, 
however, until 1804. Thus much for the Court House, which, though 
not the first, was one of the first Frame Buildings erected in the Town 
or County. 

FmST FRAMKD BUILDING. 

The first framed Building erected in the Village is yet standing, and 
occupies a conspicuous position directly West of the Presbyterian Meeting 
House. It wa'^ built by Isaac Sutiikri.anp, in March and April, 1802, ae 



15 

a rOHidence tor liiin.self and family, and about the ianie tiino ho, in con- 
nexion with Mr. Geer. put up another frame buiklinfr, dr-signed for their 
own use, as: a Joiners' Shop, on tlie ground now covered by the Presbyterian 
Meeting House. 

The House was occupied by Mr. Sutherla>'d until the Summer of 1803, 
when it was purchased by James Bkisbajje, for |*700, and for a few years 
occupied by James W. Stevens. It then became the residence of Mr. 
Brisbane for many years, and is still owned, though not occupied by him. 

FIRST STORE. 

The country being entirely destitute and greatly in want of Merchants' 
Goods, at the time of which we are now speaking, Mr. Brisbane undertook 
to supply the demand, and under the patronage of the Agents of the Holland 
Company, went to New York early in the Spring of 1802, purchased a 
stock suitable for this market, and left that city with his Goods, on the -I'^A 
of April. They came in a Sloop to Albany, and from thence by way of 
the Mohawk, Lewiston and Buffalo to this place, where they arrived about 
the middle of May. 

His first business was to procure a place for his Merchandize, and for 
that purpose he hired the Joiners' Shop above mentioned, of Sutherland 
and Geer, which was then just covered but imfinished, and in that building 
he immediately opened the first stock of Goods ever brought into the village. 
In the course of a month or two he purchased the building for $300, and 
finished it, and it was occupied as a Store and Office, until it was removed 
to make room for the Meeting House, in 1822. 

During the Summer of 1802, Wm. Monger er^-^ed the West half of 
what is now known as the Kei/es House. It was .\\ for a Tavern, and 
occupied first by Mr. Mung^r, then by a Mr. Rov\^iind afterwards by 
Wm. Keyes, who enlarged, improved and sustained it for many years, as 
the principal Hotel in the Village. It is now in the ''sear and yclloio leaf," 
and occupied as a Cradle Factory. 

During the same Summer Mr. Ellicott erected what is now the East 
wing of D. E. Evans' present dwelling house. He moved the I^and Ofiice 
into that building as soon as it was completed, (late in 1802 or early in 
1803,) and tore down the two-story Log Land Office. 

The same Summer Stephen Russell put up a two-story frame building, 
by way of addition to his log Tavern, where the Genesee House now stands. 

But without going into further detail, it will be sufficient for the present 
to state, that at this time the population began to increase rapidly, so much 
so indeed, that with two or three Taverns and the important acquisition of 
a long celebrated Fiddler, by the name of Noble, they were able to muster 
sufficient for a Ball, every two or three weeks. 

THE POST-OFFICE. 

It has already been stated, that at an early day, and prior to the settle- 
ment of tlie Holland Purciiase, o Post Route had been established between 



16 

Albany and Lewiston, passing tlirough this place; bnt at the period of 
which we are now writing, no Post Office, except at Lewiston, had been 
established West of Genesee River. 

It was very natural, therefore, that Mr. Elijcott, whose own corres- 
pondence was necessarily considerable and important, should, immediately 
after locating the Land Otfice here, seek to procure the establishment of a 
Post Office. To effect this object, he at once addressed a Petition to 
Gideon Granger, then Post Master General, and as that petition was drawn 
up with much perspicuity, and covered the whole ground, we cannot in- 
terest the reader more than by inserting it entire. It is as follows; 

•'ViLr^AGE OF Batavia, May 15, 1802. 

"Dear Sir: — In consequence of the inconvenience that results to the 
inhabitants in this part of the vState of New York, for the want of a Post 
Office, I take the liberty to solicit the Post Master General to establish one 
at this village, which, last session of the Legislature, was established the 
County Town of the County of Genesee, in the Western part of the State 
of New York. Although I cannot Hatter the Post Master General with 
much augmentation to the revenue which may arise from an establishment 
of this kind, yet as the country is fast settling, and the Land Office is kept 
here for the sale of a large extent of country, there is little doubt but that 
in a short period, a considerable revenue will arise from this establishment, 
as well as be productive of great convenience to the inhabitants. 

"There is another circumstance which, we presume, will have a consid- 
erable influence with the Post Master General in granting us this favor, 
and that is, the establishment asked for, will not add any additional expense 
to the United States, for carrying the mail, the situation of this Village 
being directly on the Post Road leading through the Genesee Country to 
Niagara. Our nearest Post Office is Twenty-five miles distant, which is 
on the East side of Genesee River, at Hartford, (now Avon,) in the county 
of Ontario. 

jj "In order more fully to give you the best information to enable you to judge 
of the merits of the favor we ask, I have enclosed a map of the Western part 
of the State of New York, and delineated thereon the point where the village 
is erected; which will point out more clearly its local situation, than any 
geographical description I can give. A friend of mine, Mr. Seth Pease, 
sometime since informed me, that he expected to be some time at the Gen- 
eral Post Office, and, if that gentleman should be there at this period, permit 
me to refer you to him, whose knowledge of the country will afford you 
ample information. Permit me at the same time I am asking for the estab- 
lishment of the Post Office, to recommend Mr. James Brisban as a fit and 
proper character to take charge of said Office, provided the Post Master 
General shall think it expedient to make the establishment. 

For any information in relation to Mr. Brishrins character, ehould the Post 
Master Genernl deem it necc»»ary, howill permit motorcferhim toMr.Peaso. 



17 

''In behalf of a number of the inhabitants of this village and the adjacent 
country, I hog leave to subscribe myself with due respect and esteem, your 
most obedient and humble servant, JOSEPH ELLICOTT, 

"Agent Holland Land Company." 
In compliance with the above petition, the Post Master General appointed 
James Brisbane as Post Master at this place, and designated the name of 
tiic Office as ^^ Genesee Court House," (which, for short, was written '^Gen- 
esee C. H.") It received that name instead of Batavia, in consequence of 
there being at that time a PostOffice by the name of Batayia, in Greene county- 
Mr. Brisbane's commission was datedJuly 21st, 1802, and he entered 
upon the duties of his Office some time in August following, keeping the 
Post Oflice in his store. At that time the mail was carried but once in two 
weeks, sometimes on foot and sometimes on horseback, going from Canan- 
daigua by Batavia, to Lewiston and Fort Niagara; and returning by way 
of Niagara Falls, Bufl'alo, Williarasville, Van Deventer's and the Indian 
Village, to this place- but soon after, a weekly mail was established, direct 
from Canandaigua to Buffalo. 

As Painters were scarce here in those days, there being no particular 
necessity for their sea"vices, the consequence was that Mr. Brisbane had no 
Sign for his office until 1804. In the Spring of that year Miss Brisbane 
(now Mrs. Trumbull Gary) and Miss Stevens, (sister of James W. 
Stevens, and afterwards Mrs, Brisbane) came to reside in the village. 
Finding the Post Master destitute of a Sign, Miss Stevens proposed to 
paint one, provided she could bo furnished with n. board, and the necessary 
paints and brushes. She was accordingly supplied with the materials, 
which resulted in the production of a very neatly painted and lettered sign. 
This was the only Post Office sign in use here until some time after *the 
writer of thi^ sketch took charge af the Post Office, in 1823. He procured 
a new one, but at the same time took special pains to preserve the old one; 
and during the time the office remained in his hands, (which was about 
twenty years) he twice had the letters re-painted, carefully preserving their 
original shape and color. That sign may still be seen at the Post Office, 
where we trust it will always be preserved as a relic of the olden time, and 
be held as an appendage to the Office, to be transmitted from one incum- 
bent to another through all the mutations of future years. 

While on the Post Office subject, we may as well go through with its 
history at once, as to take it up at detached periods. 

Mr. Brisbane continued to hold the Office until the Fall of 1806, when he 
vsold bis Goods and rented his Store to Ebenezer Gary, with a view of 
engaging in business in New York, and Mr. Gary was appointed Post Mas- 
ter in his place. Mr. Gary held the Office until the 3d of June, 1815, 
when he resigned in favor of his brother Trumbull Gary, who immedi- 
ately received the appointment and held the commission until July Isl, 
1829, a term of fourteen years. 



18 

It is proper here to notice that Trumbull Gary having been a Clerk for 
?'r. Brisbane, and also for his brother Ebknkzer, hadvirtually discharged 
the duties of Post Master from 1805. 

On the 13th of January, 1823, Mr. Cart finding it inconvenient to devote 
his personal attention to the Office, voluntarily, and very generously placed 
it in charge of Wm. Seaver, (the writer of this sketch,) allowing him the 
entire emoluments of the Office, and simply retaining the franking privilege 
and such official powers as were necessary for him to execute. 

[For this unsolicited favor from the hands of Mr. Cary, the writer can 
never cease to be grateful, especially as it came to him at that time, like a 
ray of light beaming upon the pathway of a benighted traveller.] 

Under that arrangement the office was conducted until the 1st July, 
1829, when Simeon Cuwrnes was appointed in place of Mr. Cary. The 
same arrangement, however, was made with Judge Cumi.ngs as with Mr. 
Gary, and thus the Office continued to be kept by the writer, until the 22d 
of July, 1836, when Judge Cuminos resigned, after having held his com- 
mission seven years, and William Seaver was appointed Post Master in 
his stead. 

His first commission was from Amos Kendall, then Post Master General, 
but in consequence of a law being passed by Congress, July 2d, 1836, requir- 
ing that at all the Post Offices where the emoluments exceeded one thousand 
dollars per year, the Post Masters should be appointed by the President and 
Senate, and in 1837 the emoluments of this Office having come up to that 
amount, Mr. Seaver was re-appointed, for four years, by the President and 
Senate, on the 13th of April, 1838. His last commission expired on the 
13th of April, 1842, and he neither asked nor expected its renewal, under 
the change of Administration, which took place on the accession of Gen. 
Harrison to the Presidency. No appointment was made, however, until 
about five months after the commission had expired, when it was conferred 
on Levant B. Cotes, into whose hands the Office was surrendered on the 
6th of August, 1842. 

Thus it will be seen that Mr. Seaver discharged the duties of Post Master 
from the 13th of January, 1823, to the 6th of August, 1842 — a term but little 
short of twenty years, and a position seldom occupied by one individual 
for so great a length of time. But as we do not propose to become our 
own eulogist, it is left for those familiar with our "administration" to 
judge of the manner in which our public duties were performed. 

Dr. Cotes having been appointed by President Tyler, took the office 
on the 6th of August, 1 842, as above stated, and held it for about one year, 
wiien President Tyler appointed Fr);derick Follett in his place. This 
last appointment was made during the interrcgiuun of the Senate, but pre- 
vious to the meeting of that Body, it was discovered that the cmolumeirts 
of the Office had so far diminished as to bring the appointment under the 
Post Master General's jurisdiction, and Capt. Follett's appointnent by 



19 

the President, was consequently not submitted to the Senate for ratifi- 
cation. He was at once commissioned, however, by Post Master General 
WicRLiFF, and under that appoimtment he, at this present loriling, still 
retains the Office. 

We now return to 1 802, for the purpose of sliovving the growth of the 
village, the settlement of the country, and also its political character. — 
The most authentic information on these points is contained in a letter 
from Joseph Ellicott to Seth Pease, Esq., dated Batavia, 15th May 
1802, as follows: — 

"As you were acquainted with this part of the country before any 
settlement took place, it may not be altogether uninteresting to be informed 
of the number of votes given in at this village last election, for Members 
of Congress, which will be some data to form an opinion of the progress 
of settlement. 

"Oliver Phelps, Esq., Republican, 50 votes. 
"Nat. W. Howell, Esq., Anti-Republican, 1 vote. 
"In this County, (Genesee,) in consequence of the sparse settlements, 
not more than one third of the people could with any convenience attend 
the election polls, therefore we only voted 133, of which 117 were Repub- 
lican and for Oliver Phelps, and the residue for Nat. W. Howell, 
so that it appears this county may be styled Republican." 

Without dwelling on further particulars, we pass to 1803. The most 
memorable events of that year were, the organization of the County, and 
the holding of the first Court. The first Court was held in the new Court 
House, June 14th, at which TermRicHAiiD Smith, Esq., was admitted 
as an Attorney and Counsellor. The next Court was held November 8tb 
when Daniel B. Brown, Esq., was admitted. 

On the 18th of June, 1803, David E. Evans came to reside with his 
uncle, Joseph Ellicott, as a Clerk in the Land Office, and still remains 
as one of our most distinguished citizens. 

During that year, Burt and Stoddard erected a small framed build- 
ing on the ground between the Keyes House and the Brisbane House, 
where they opened the second Store in the village. [That building was 
subsequently removed to near the spot where John Kinyon's store now 
stands, and was destroyed by fire early in 1822.] 

The year 1804 seems not to have been distinguished by any very im- 
portant event, except the finishing of the Grist Mill, and that was not 
completed until December. 

Previous to that time, all the breadstufTfor the settlers was procured 
East of Genesee River, and brought here on pack-horses; from which cir- 
cumstance it may well be supposed that the "staff of life" was not at all 
times on hand, as the following instance, related to us by Mr. Evans, will 
serve to illustrate. 



20 

In November, 1804, Josf.ph Ellicott was appointed an Elector of 
President and Vice President of the United States, and the Electoral Col- 
lege was to meet at Hudson, early in December. He accordingly star- 
ted for Hudson the latter part of November, taking Mr. Evans with him; 
but that which renders the event particularly vivid in his recollection is 
the fact, that for several days immediately preceding their departure, not 
a morsel of bread had been seen in the village. High end low, rich and 
poor, were in the same predicament, so that no one envied his neighbor on 
that score. There was plenty of pork and potatoes, but as to the staple 
article, not even a "Jonny Cake" could be procured in the whole settle- 
ment. With breadless stomachs therefore, the Elector and his Nephew 
started on their journey, but fortunately for those they left behind, a man 
was met in the woods, between StaflFord and LeRoy, having two pack- 
horses loaded with flour. Mr. Ellicott at once purchased the "cargo," 
and having despatched it to the destitute Batavians, went on his way 
rejoicing in the anticipation of soon luxuriating in the land of plenty, to 
which he was approaching. 

When they returned from Hudson in December, the Grist Mill was 
in full operation, and since that time, so far as we can learn, Batavia has 
never been destitute of a loaf of bread. 

The years 1805 and 1806 appear to have been unproductive of any 
very remarkable events; we therefore pass them over by simply reminding 
the reader, that up to the time of which we are now writing, and prob- 
ably to a still later period, a great portien of the present most central and 
compact part of our village, was then a swamp, or low wet land, some- 
times called a frog-pond, and that the gi'ound on which the Genesee House 
stands, together with a small piece on the opposite -side of the .street was 
called ''The Island:' 

Byway of illustrating the peculiar attractions oftliis 'Island' and swamp, 
the late Daniel B. Brown, Esq., was fond of rclatitg the anecdote, that 
not long after Stephen Russell had enlafgcd his Tavern, (to which we 
have previously alluded,) on the ''Island," some travellers, of whom two 
were ladies, put up at that House for the night. It being a warm and 
pleasant evening in the Spring, precisely such an one as frogs delight to 
celebrate with their nocturnal songs, that innumerable "suhtcn-aneaiC' choir 
poured forth their loudest notes, from the "thorough bass" of original 
masculine Windhamites, up to the slu'ill pipings of tiicir degenerate oflspring. 
After listening for a while to this unearthly melody with which the wliole 
surrounding forest resounded, one of the ladies exclaimed, "Well, if I 
was destined to spend my days in Batavia, I should at once pray to Jvpitcr 
to turn me iirto a Prog!" 

But the scene is changed. That 'Island has lost its identity — the swamp 
has arisen from its lowly bed, like the lion when lie "shakes the dew-dro])s 
from hiti mane," and jts submarine inhabitants have been driven before the 



21 

march of civilization, until scarce a descendant of tliat innumerable host irf 
left to cheer our waking hours with his matin notes, or lull us to repose 
with his evening song. 

We now bid the frogs of 1806 adieu, and pass on to 1807. The first 
thing which claims our notice in that year is the establishment of a Prin- 
ting Press in this village, the first ever seen West of Genesee River. 
To give the best account of that establishment, together with a continued 
history of the Press in this village up to the present time, we quote from 
tJie 'History of the Press in Western New York," prepared by Frederick 
FoLLETT, Esq., at the request of a Committee appointed at the Printers' 
Festival, in Rochester, in January, 1847. 

[Tliat part of the History which relates to Genesee County, was pub- 
lished in the Spirit of the Times in December, 1846, but in order to carry 
out our present object, we deem it proper to re-publish in this connexion, so 
mucli of it as relates to the village of Fatavia.] 

Mr. FoLLETT says: — "The first paper printed in the County of Genesee, 
was established at JJatavia, then, as now, the County Seat, in the spring of 
1807. At the date, or near it, indicated below, I addressed a letter to 
Benjamin Blodgett, Esq,, asking information in relation to the early 
history of the Press in this County. I received the following letter from 
him, and I cannot do better justice to the subject than by copying the letter 
entire* It is as follows:— 

"Pembroke, Nov. 25, 1846. 
"Friend Foilett; — I this morming received your note asking informa- 
tion of the 'rise and progress of the Art of Printing,' in this County. I 
regret that I am not able to give you a more minute account. Not having 
preserved a file of my old papers, I have to depend merely upon memory. 
The first paper established in this County was in the spring of 1807. 
Elias Williams purchased in Manlius, an old Ramage Printing Press 
that had been laid aside as useless, and a box of old type in pi, intended to 
sell as type metal, and brought them, in the winter of that year, to Batavia. 
After a laborious winter's work of assorting his old type, and patching up 
the old press, he published the first number of a paper called the 'Genesee 
Intelligencer.' This paper was printed upon a half sheet of Medium size, 
with a subscription list of 100, and two or three columns of advertisements 
from the Holland Land Company, one Elopement, and one runaway appren- 
tice Boy, for whose apprehension a bag of bran was offered as a reward. 
This was all the advertising patronage, if my recollection serves me 
right, that the paper commenced with. The paper was a sorry looking 
thing — the mechanical execution being so bad that it would have puzzled 
a Philadelphia Lawyer to find out what it was, I ought to have preserved 
a copy— it would be looked upon by the craft at this day, not only as a lite- 
rary but a mechanical curiosity. Williams, becoming disheartened at 
ihc shabby appearance of his paper, and about to fail for the want of funds, 



22 

induced me to go Into partnorsliip with him. Anxious to see my name at 
the head of a newspaper, as Printer, Publisher, and Editor, too, of the 'Gen- 
esee Intelligencer,' I embarked my all of this world's eflects in the enter- 
prise, which amounted to the vast sum of forty-eight dollars and seventy 
Jive cents, the 'hard earnings of the summer before, as Pack Horseman 
and Cook to a Company of Surveyors on the Holland Purchase — a pursuit 
better fitted to my capacity at that day, than Editor to the 'Genesee Intel- 
ligencer.' 

"About the first July, 1807, the firm of Williams k, Blodgett resumed 
the publication of the 'Intelligencer,' with an increased subscription list 
and advertising patronage. After publishing 13 numbers, Williams went 
to Alexander to attend a Military Review, and has never since been seen or 
heard of in this country. This unceremonious leave-taking of Williams 
put a mighty damper upon the prospects of Mr. Editor Blodgett, who 
instead of realizing the golden dreams he had anticipated, found himself 
involved in debt about $300, flat on his back with the fever and ague, 
which continued about six months without intermission ; and for the want 
of help, not being a practical Printer myself, was obliged to abandon the 
publication of the 'Intelligencer.' However, in the spring of 1808, I 
rallied again, and in company with a man by the name of Peek, I started 
the 'Cornucopia,' (a very classic name,) with an enlarged sheet and new 
type, under the firm of Peek k, Blodgett, with a subscription list of 
about 300. In the fall of 181 1, Peek was taken sick and died, and with his 
death the 'Cornucopia' went down. 

"I then, under the mechanical superintendence of David C. Miller, 
(afterwards Colonel, with his little cane and breeches,) commenced the 
publication of the 'Republican Advocate,' with a new Press and new type, 
and continued its publicatiau for several years, when I sold out to Colonel 
Miller, who became sole proprietor of that paper. 

"Your friend, BENJAMIN BLODGETT." 

"This was the first paper ever established, I believe, which was called the 
'Advocate.' Since that time, however, many a bantling has sprung into 
existence bearing that cognomen. 

"The 'Republican Advocate' continued in the hands, and under the 
direction of Col. Miller, until April, 1828, when he took into copartner- 
ship Charles Sentell, by whom it was conducted until July, 1829, when 
it passed into the hands of Charles W. Miller, and was continued by 
him until the 21st November, 1831, when he died. The paper was con- 
tinued without any acknowledged proprietor, until the 17th January, 1832, 
when it passed into the hands of Edwin Hough and Andrew W. YouNti, 
the latter gentlemen having been engaged in the publication of the 'War- 
saw Sentinel.' On the 13th November, 1832, Hough left the establish- 
ment in the hands of Young. On the 8th April, 1835, Young transferred 
the office to Lewis Si Brown, who continued the paper for three weeks, 



23 

and then it reverted back again to Mr. Yuu^G. The establishment was 
then sold to C. C. Allkn, who continued its publication for /our ivceks, 
when he surrendered the establishment to Mr. Young again. Young 
printed a half sheet to give the paper an existence, and then, on the 8th of 
June, 1835, sold out to Waite & Cooley. This copartnership continued 
until the 16th September, of the same year, when Cooley retired from 
tlie establishment, leaving it in the hands of Mr. Waite, by whom it is 
still continued, 

"On the 3d day of February, 1819, the first number of the 'Spirit of 
the Times,' was issued at Batavia, by Oran Follett, on which occasion 
the writer of this made his first attempt at type setting. The 'Times' 
was continued by the same proprietor until May, 1825, when Frrdf;rick; 
Follett purchased the establishment of his brother, and was duly installed 
Eflitor and Proprietor, and continued as such until August, 1836, when 
being fired by an extra love of liberty, and desiring to participate in the 
struggle then in progress in Texas, sold the establishment to a number of 
gentlemen, and repaired to the country of the 'lone Star.' The establish- 
ment was then placed in the hands of Nelson D. Wood, who continued 
at its head until the writer's return, who, on the l7th of August, 1837, again 
found himself at the head of the 'Times,' and continued in that capacity 
until the 11th of June,1840, when the 'Times' passed into the hands of 
Lucas Seaver, who continued its publication until the 28th of January, 
1845, when he disposed of it to William Seaver & William A. Seaver, 
by whom it is still continued under the firm of Wm. Seaver k. Son. 

[On the first of March, 1848, William A. Seaver transferred his in- 
terest in the 'Times' establishment, to his Brother James E. Seaver, who 
thus became one of the firm of Wm. Seaver 8t Son, and by whom that 
establishment is still conducted.] 

"The 'People's Press,' owned by an association of individuals, and printed 
by Bbnj. Blodgett, was commenced in the village of Batavia, in 1825, and 
was continued by Mr. Blodgett for about a year, when it passed into the 
hands of Martin, Adams k. Thorp. Soon after, Mr. Martin retired from 
the establishment, leaving it in the hands of Adams fc Thorp. Another 
change soon after took place, and the establishment passed into the hands 
of Adams k. McCleary. The paper was afterwards merged in the 'Spirit 
of the Times,' and finally its name has become extinct. 

"The 'Morgan Investigator' was the title of a small paper published at 
the office of the 'Republican Advocate,' soon after the excitement of 1826 
broke out. It was coninued about a year and then expired. Its title is a 
sufficient indication of the purposes of its origin. 

"The 'Masonic Intelligencer' was also started about the same period, 
and for purposes directly the reverse of the former. It was published at the 
ofiice of the 'Peoples' Press.' It attained about the same age. 



24 

'•Oil leaving- the ulHcc ul' tlio 'Spirit of the Times," June lltii, 1840, the 
writer of tliis, in connection with Peter Lawrence, who until that time 
had published the 'Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal,' at Alexander, com- 
menced, in the village of Batavia, the publication of the 'Batavia Times and 
Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal,' the first number of which paper was 
issued on the 18th day of June, 1840. Lawrence continued in the estab- 
lishment for two or three months, when the writer took the establishment 
into his own hands, and continued its publication until the 20th of Sep- 
cmber, 1843, when the 'good will' of the establishment was disposed of to 
Lucas Seaver, who was then the proprietor of the 'Spirit of the Times.' 

"The 'Temperance Herald' was the title of a small paper printed by 
Lucas Seaver, and issued from the office of the 'Spirit of the Times.' 
The first number was issued in March, 1842, and was continued for one 
year. It was devoted, as is implied by its title, to the cause of Tem- 
perance."' 

"Having gone through with an enumeration of the different Newspapers 
established in this town for the last forty years," Mr. Follett says, "my 
task may be considered as ended. But what has become of the founders of 
those establishments'? The inquiry is an interesting one, and it may not be 
wholly unprofitable to give the answer. 

"Elias Williams, the Pioneer of the Newspaper Press in this town, as 
has before been stated, left the field of his early labors in a most abrupt and 
unceremonious manner — and, as stated, has never since been seen or heard 
of in this town. Whether he was spirited away, by some of the evil gen- 
iuses, who in early times were associated with the Craft in the minds of 
the vulgar or uninformed — or whether he was actuated by a more noble 
and magnanimons principle, and "left his country for his country's good,"' 
is really more than I can say. It however had been suggested to us by his 
old partner, that the reason why Williams thus made himself scarce about 
these parts, was this — Previous to the review in question, both proprietors 
of the 'Intelligencer,' (Printers are celebrated for their military propensities) 
were elected Corporals of a Company in Batavia, and on repairing to Alex- 
ander to be reviewed, Williams tliought, especially as it was the bounden 
duty of n)ilitary men to fight, that he would get up a little bit of a row — and 
as it generally happens in such cases that somebody must get licked, the lot 
fell, unfortunately, upon Williams. Having got most essentially thrashed 
out — both eyes put in mourning for the sins of the inner man, we suppose, 
he decamped. One thing, however, is certain — Williams lias left an 
interregnum is his history which it is impossible for me to supply, and I am 
therefore compelled thus to leave his name wrapped in mystery and doubt. 

"Benjamin Blodgett, the next in order as the pioneer of Printing in this 
town is still living. After catering for many years, for the appetite of the 
reading public, he abandoned the printing business, and commenced catering 
for the traveling public. Who that has travelled on the great thoroughfare to 



25 

Buffalo, before the introduction and completion of the iron roads,- does nof 
remember the "Richville Cottage?" It was a frequent remark of travellers 
that at no place between Albany and Buffalo, did they fare so well or so 
bountifull)', as at the 'Cottage;' and this was kept by our old friend Ben- 
jamin Blod6ett, who still resides at Pembroke, and I hope he may long 
continue in the enjoyment of the blessings of this life. 

"Samuel Peek died in this Village, in the fall of 1811, while engaged 
in the publication, with Blougett, of the 'Cornucopia.' 

''David C. Miller. It cannot be denied but what Miller possessed .t 
very considerable degree of talent, and a reasonable share of shretvdness. 
All will remember the conspicuous part he bore in the exciting times 
which followed the abduction of William Morgajj, in 1826. Miller was 
afterwards elected County Clerk, took the stump as a candidate for Con- 
gress, was defeated, and finally left, in 1832, or '33, cursing the party, or 
its leaders, as guilty of ingratitude. The last intelligence of this man 
located him at Cleveland, Ohio. 

"Oras Follett continued the publication of the 'Spirit of the TiraCvS,' 
until 1825, when he sold out. In the fall of 1824, he was returned a 
Member of the Legislature from this County. After disposing of the 
'Times,' he united with Day fa. Haskins in the publication of a paper at 
Buffalo. From thence he removed to Sandusky City, Ohio, where he now 
resides, and is President of the Board of Public Works of that State. 

"Frederick Follett, his successor in the publication of the 'Times,' 
continued it from 1825, untit 1840, with an interruption of one year — then 
published the 'Times and Journal,' until 1843 — since which time he has 
been servino" the public in the capacity of Post Master of the village of 
Batavia. 

[In a former part of our "Sketch," we stated "ai that present writing,'^ 
that Mr. Follett, retained the office of Post Master. We now have to 
state that his head has been brought to the block by the new Post Master 
General, and that Charles E. Ford is appointed in his place.] 

"Andrew W. Young, is still living. He resides at Warsaw, in the 
county of Wyoming. Since leaving the Printing business Mr. Young has 
turned author, and his work upon the 'Science of Government,' designed for 
a School Book, has met with an extensive sale, and is deservedly popular. 
Mr. Young has been twice elected to the Legislature from Wyoming, and 
was returned a member of the late Convention to revise the Constitution of 
this State, froni the same County. 

Lewis fa Brown. The former gentleman is the editor of a paper in 
Marshall, Michigan, where he has resided for some years. Mr. Brown, 
I believe, is also printing a paper in Michigan. 

C. C. Allen prints the 'Sciota Gazette,' at Chilicothe, Ohio, and if the 
appearance of the paper indicates anything, he is doing well. 



26 

"Daniel D» Waite still presides at the head of the 'RepBblicais Advo- 
cate,' and unlike his predecessors in the Printing business in Bata^ia, by 
good management anJ strict economy, has been able to sustain himself 
respectably, and lay by something for a rainy day. I certainly rejoice at 
this, although it is unlike the luck of Printers generally. We hope his 
case may always be full. 

"E. A. CooLEY, who was at once concerned in the publication of the 
'Republican Advocate,' and who afterwards published a paper in Attica, 
Wyoming county, is now publishing a paper at [Elk Horn] Wisconsin. 

*'Daniel p. Adams, for some time one of the publishers of the 'Peoples' 
Press,' like too many of the Craft, belongs to that order of men whose pil- 
grimage through life seems always to be 'up hill.' Honest and industrious, 
he makes a good living. After leaving Batavia, he published a paper at 
Black Rock. He is now a journeyman in Buffalo. 

"John Thorp, another publisher of the 'Peoples' Press,' went to New 
Orleans, and fell a victim soon after, to the prevailing fever of that region. 
"David C» McCleary, who was also at one time the Editor of the 
'Peoples' Press,' now slumbers with the silent dead. Mr. McCleary was 
a young man of no ordinary talent. He was an easy and forcible writer, 
and had he lived, would have become conspicuous among the writers of the 
^e. But his health was always feeble, which finally compelled him to 
abandon the active duties of life. He repaired to the home of his child- 
hood, in Vermont, but it was only to mingle his ashes with those who had 
preceded him in the drama of life. His death was universally regretted. 
He was a brother-in-law of Col. William Seaver, of this village, and now 
the senior Editor of the 'Times.' 

"Peter Lawrence, originally of the 'Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal,' 
and afterwards associated with Frederick Follett in the publication of 
the 'Times and Journal,' is now the Editor of the 'Perry Democrat.' 
Mr. Lawhence is a rare genius— full of humor, wit, and jovial good 
feeling — a fast friend and an unflinching enemy. Like too many of the 
same profession, he is satisfied with doing well, without attempting to do 
better. 

"Lucas Seaver. It is far more difficult to speak of the living than the 
dead. The subject now under consideration is, in every sense of the word, 
a living one. He was, in years gone by, an apprentice in the office of the 
writer, and for that reason, if for no other, I feel that I am privileged 
to speak with freedom. With warm and generous impulses, misfortune 
never appeals to him in vain, and he too often permits these impulses to 
displace from its seat the trite, but too frequently neglected adage, 'charity 
begins at home,' He is firm in his friendship — ^jovial, kind-hearted and 
generous in his intercourse with his companions; firm, manly, and unflinch- 
ing in his walk through life thus far. I can only hope in his case, and this 
hope is extended to all of whom I have spoken, that his cose may always be 



27 

full — that he may never run out of sorts, and when the last toUen shall be 
Jinished and the ybnn locked up for its final transition, he, with them, may 
be distributed among the great font of the blest, without a monk or a 
friar to mar the beauty of their last page" 

[He now has a Printing Office in Milwaukie, Wisconsin, and is about 
to establish a Daily Paper.] 

Having traced the Newspaper Press up to the present time, we now go 
back to 1807, but as this sketch has already grown to a length exceeding 
our original anticipations, and as there are yet many interesting facts to 
detail of later date, we shall pass hastily over the years 1807-8, in which 
very little of importance is discoverable, except that the Village and ad- 
jacent Country improved rapidlj', and that many valuable and enterprising 
people, some of whom still remain, came in to s\tell the tide of business 
and population. 

Iq the spring of 1808, Mr. Brisbane resumed the Mercantile business 
in his old Store, which had been occupied in his absence by Ebenezek. 
Gary, and the latter moved his Goods and Post Office into the Burt and 
Babcock Store, (made vacant by their failure in 1806,) until his ow)i 
store and dwelling was erected in 1809, and which is the wood building now 
standing next east of S. Grant's Store. Brisbane and Gary continued 
the only Merchants in town until 1810, when Ephraim Hart built a store 
on the ground now covered by the stores of Smith k. Warren, and Wm. 
H. Wells Si. Son, where he opened quite an extensive establishment, which 
was managed by Glark Heacox, a man of extraordinary business capac- 
ity, who now resides in Buffalo. 

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 

We now proceed to give a brief account of the Religious Societies in 
the Village, taking them in the order of their organization, and tracing 
them separately to the present time. This account however, will, in some 
particulars, be meager and imperfect, particularly in regard to the Gongre 
gational Society, in consequence of the loss of some of its early records. 

For several years after the first settlement of the Village but little atten- 
tion seems to have been paid to religious matters, except that religioue 
meetings were occasionally held by pious Laymen, and also at irregular 
intervals by itinerant Preachers. 

THE CONGREGATIONAIi SOCIETY. 

The first organization of a Society, at least so far as there are any re- 
cords, was on the 19th of September, 1809. On that day, as stated in the 
record, "A regular Meeting was held at the Genter School House in thifl 
place, this afternoon, agreeable to previous notice being given, for the pur- 
pose of forming a Congregational Church. The Rev. Royal Phelps, a 
Missionary from the Hampshire Missionary Society in the Gommonwealth 
of Massachusetts presided, and officiated in the transactions of the day. 



28 

We spent the meeting witli a Sermon adapted to the occasion, from Joshua 
24th Chap. 15tli Verse, 2d Clause." 

"The following persons then came ferward and offered themselves to 
ho Incorporated into a Churcli of Christ in this place, according to the rules 
o( the Gospel, viz: Silas Chapin, David Anderson, Ezekiel Fox, Solomon 
Kingsley, Eleanor Smith, Elizabeth Mathers, Elizabeth Peck, Esther Kel- 
iogg, Hulda Wright, Patience Kingsley, Esther Kingsley, Polly Branard." 

"They were then severally examined with regard to their views of doc- 
trinal and experimental religion, and after obtaining satisfaction and knowl- 
edge of their christian faith and sincerity, they also professing satisfaction 
in each other, the Articles of Faith, and Church XDovenant, were adminis- 
tered to them, and they were pronounced a Church of Christ, according 
to the rules of the Gospel. Miss Esther Kingsley not having been 
Baptised, had the Ordinance of Baptism administered to her, previous to the 
(|!uirch being Organized. The meeting was concluded with solemn prayer 
to God." 

Attest, ROYAL PHELPS, Missionary. 

On the 24th Sept., 1809, the Rer. Royal Phelps preached at/fsse Ritm- 
sey's Barn, and "administered the ordinance of the Lords Supper." This 
was probably the first time that holy ordinance was ever administered in 
this place. 

l!^■CORPORATIO^" OF THE CO>GREGATIO>-AL SOCIETY. 

On the 5th of Feb., 1811, a public meeting was held at the Court House 
agreeable to previous notice, for the purpose of organizing a Congregational 
Bociety, in conformity wiih the Statute passed in 1801, providing for the 
Incorporation of Religious Societies. 

After appointing Deacon Benjamin Porter, Moderator, and Lemuel 
Foster, Clerk, the meeting then elected Ebenezer Cary, Ebenezer 
Skymour, and Benjamin Porter, "to serve as Trustees of the same con- 
gregation, to be denominated and known in Law by the name of the Trus- 
tees of the First Congregational Society in the Town of Batavia.^' 
The record was attested by the Moderator and Clerk, in presence of Silas 
Chapin, Ebenezer Seymour, and Edmund Badger, acknowledged before 
Benjamin Ellicott one of the .Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and 
recorded by Simeon Cumings County Clerk. 

By reference to the old Records, we discover that after the orgnnization 
of the Church by Rev. Mr. Phelps, the following Missionaries officiated 
in the Society, irregularly and at long intervals — Rev. Reuben Parmelr, 
twice in 1810 and tv/ice in 1811; Rev. John Spencer, once, Rev. John 
Albxandbr, once, and Rev. Mr. Anes, once in I8r2; Rev. Mr. Bliss, 
once in 1813; Rev. Mr. Swift, once in 1814; Rev. Mr. Hannino, 3 times 
in 1815; Rev. Mr. Sweezy, once in 1816, and Rev. Messrs. SquiRKS, 
iiLiSS, Colton, Duvei,, and Chapin, onceeach in 1817, 



29 

On the 23d of January, 1818, a call was presented to Rev. Ephraim 
.Chapin, who thereupon became the first regularly settled Minister of tlie 
congregation, and continued to officiate as such until January 1822, when ho 
was succeeded by Rev. Calvin Coltov, who engaged to officiate one half 
the time for one year. At the close of 1822 Mr. Colto.x was hired for 
another year, and on entering upon his new engagement, he at once deter- 
mined to make an effort for the erection of a Meeting House, and on 
the 10th of January 1823, a subscription paper was drawn up, to raise the 
necessary funds. The efforts of Mr. Colton for this object, aided by a 
few energetic individuals, were soon crowned with success, and on the 25tli 
of February, 1823, contracts were executed between the Trustees and 
Benjamin Allen and Thomas McCulley, for the building of the present 
, Meeting House, for $3,574,00, to be completed by July 1st, 1824, The 
work was immediately commenced, and completed within the time specified. 
A bell was also procured weighing about 1000 pounds, and which was cast 
in this village, by Jas. Cochran. 

The Trustees under whose supervision the House was built were Benj. 
Porter, Sam'l Hall, and Wm. H. Wells, who were succeeded on the 
liith September, 1824, by Wm. H. Wells, Wm. Seaver and Jonathan 
Lay. This last election was at a special meeting to re -incorporate the So- 
ciety, it having become dissolved by neglecting to choose its officers within 
the prescribed time. Again for the same neglect, a re-orgunization of the 
Society took place on the 20th of December, 1825, when Wm, Seaver 
Wm. H. Bush, W. J. Wood, Wm. H. Wells, Robert Richmond, and 
S. D. Greene, were chosen Trustees. At this meeting it was "Resolved, 
That the Trustees be authorized to petition the Legislature of this State to 
liave the name of this Society altered from that of the 'First Congregational 
Society of Batavia,' to the 'First Presbyterian Church of Batavia.' " The 
Resolution was never carried into effect, and consequently the Society 
retains its original title. 

[It may here be noted that in consequence of the loss of the old Society 
Books the proceedings of the meeting last mentioned above, are the first 
wiiich now appears on the Records of the Society.] 

Mr. Colton continued to officiate as Pastor of the Church until June 

1826, when he resigned, and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Messrs. Hun- 
ter, Spencer, Whitehead, Smith, Brining, and Throop, until about the 
lirst of January, 1827, when Rev. Charles Whitehead was called to 
tlie Pastoral office. Mr. Whitehead resigned his charge in December, 

1827, and the Rev. Russell Whiting was called in his place, who, it 
appears from imperfect Records, remained until some time in 1832, when 
he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Fitch. Rev. Silas Brown succeeded 
Mr. Fitch in 1835, and continued until November?, 1836, when Rev. E. J. 
Gillktt was elected Pastor. Mr. Gillett remained between two and 
three years, and was succeeded by Rev. Wm. H. Beecher, who was called 



30 

to tlie Pastoral office on the 30th of May, 1839, and remained until June 
■or July, 1843. Soon after Mr. Beecher's connexion with the Society 
ceased, tlie Rev. By'ron Sunderland was invited to fill his place, and 
after having officiated about one year, he was, on the 20th July, 1844, 
regularly "called to be ordained as Pastor," and as such he still remains, 
to the great satisfaction of his congregation. The present Trustees are 
P. L. Tracy, Jacob Williams, John Sprague, Joseph Clark, Elias 
Foot, and L. B. Cotes. 

We have taken great pains to search out and gather from scattered 
fragments, the foregoing facts, and though some errors may be discovered, 
it is believed that the statement is nearly correctso far as it goes. 

the PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The first time Religious Services were ever performed in this Village 
according to the ritual of the Episcopal Church, so far as we have been 
able to discover, was in the spring of 1815. By reference to the Journal 
of the Diocesan Convention of that year, we find it stated in Bishop Ho- 
BARTs Report, that tlie Rev. Alanson W. Welton had spent "three 
Sundays at Batavia,'' and the date of those "Sundays" appears upon the 
original Records of the Church, which fortunately are still preserved, and 
are now before us, and to which we shall now refer. 

INCORPORATION OF ST. JAMES' CHURCH. 

On the 6th day of June, 1815, "a meeting of several of the members of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, inhabitants of the town of Batavia," was 
held "in the Court House in the said town, in pursuance of notice for that 
purpose given in the time of morning service, on two Sundays preceding 
that day, and in compliance with an act to provide for the incorporation of 
Religious Societies. The Rev. Alanson W. Welton being called to the 
Chair — John Hickcox and Samuel Benedict were chosen Church Wardens; 
and Richard Smith, Isaac Sutherland, Isaac Spencer, John Z, Ross, 
Chauncey Keyes, David C. .Miller, Aaron Van Clcve, and Ostvald Wil- 
liams, were chosen Vestrymen; and at the same time it was unanimously 
Resolved, That Monday in Easter week hereafter be the day for the annual 
election of their successors, and that the said Church be known and distin- 
guished by the name of St. James' Church in Batavia." The Record was 
certified by the Chairman, and S. Cumings and Trumbull Cary, in pres- 
ence of Samuel Risley and Isaiah Babcock — acknowledged before D. 
McCracken, one of Judges of Genesee County Courts, and Recorded by 
Samuel Lake, Deputy County Clerk. 

It would seem that the subject of erecting a Church Edifice was imme- 
diately agitated after the above act of Incorporation, for at the first Meeting 
of the Vestry, which was held " at Ilickcox's Inn, in the Village of Batavia, 
on Saturday, July 1st, 1815, after appointing Richard Smith, Clerk, it was 
Resolved, That Isaac Sutherland, John Z. Ross, and Chauncey Keyes, be 
a Committee to wait on the Agent of the Holland Land Company, to ascer- 



31 

tain what aid may be obtained from the said Company towards the erection 
of a Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Village of Batavia, and that th» 
said Committee report at the next meeting of the Vestry." The meeting 
adjourned to the 15th of July, at which time the Committee reported, "that 
in behalf of the Holland Land Company, the Agent would make a donation 
towards the erection of a Protestant Episcopal Church, if of Wood, of One 
thousand Dollars, and if of Brick, of Fifteen hundred Dollars." 

Again, at a Meeting of the Vestry, at Hickcox's Inn, (which was in the 
South part of the Court House, ) a Committee consisting of Aaron Van Cleve, 
and Isaac Sutherland, was appointed "to wait on the Agent of the Holland 
Land Company, and to ascertain what Site may be obtained for the Church 
proposed to be erected in the Village of Batavia, with a plan of the grouud, 
and to report at the next Meeting of the Vestry." At another Meeting, 
October 21st, 1815, Isaac Sutherland was appointed "to superintend the 
erection of a Brick Church in the Village of Batavia, with power to make 
contracts for Brick and other materials, and that he be allowed a reasonable 
compensation for his services." At the same time Richard Smith was ap- 
pointed Treasurer, and Chauncey Keyes, and Isaac Spencer, Collectors," 
with power to receive all monies subscribed for the erection of St. James' 
Church. It appears, however, that Maj. Sutherland declined acting as su- 
perintendent, and that on the 12th Nov., he, together with Oswald Williams, 
were appointed a Committee to recommend some suitable person in his place. 
Who that person was, does not appear on the record. 

The Vestry set about collecting money, materials, &j,c., and contracted 
with David Canficld, and Thomas McCuUey, then of Schenectady, to do the 
mason work, who, on the 10th of April, 1816, broke ground and commenced 
the erection of the Church. 

The annual election for 1816, was held on the 15th of April, when the 
following persons were chosen : 

JOHN HICKCOX, I .„ , 

SAMUEL BENEDICT, ( "hardens. 
ISAAC SUTHERLAND, JOHN Z. ROSS, ] 
EBENEZER MIX, DAVID C. MILLER, >. ^ , 

CHAUNCEY KEYS, LIBBEUS FISH, f vestrymen. 

OSWALD WILLIAMS, RICHARD SMITH, j 
Under the supervision of this Board, the erection of the Church was pros- 
ecuted, and the walls were finished, and the roof put on in Sept. or Oct. of 
that year. At that stage of proceedings, the Vestry having exhausted all its 
available funds, were obliged to abandon the work, and in that condition the 
building was suffered to remain until the Spring of 1822. 

Up to that time we find nothing worthy of mention, except that in August 
or September of 1815, Bishop Hobart visited the Parish and officiated in the 
Court House — that the Rev. Alanson W. Welton, officiated ten times in 
1816 — the Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, once the same year, and twice in 
1817, in exchange with the Rev. Samuel Johnson, who, in the Journal of 



32 

the Convention of tliat year say?, "I arrived in Batavia the 16th October, 
and agreable to directions, devoted the most of my Missionary labors there," 
"I liave officiated twenty Sundays in Batavia, * * exchanged with the Rev. 
Orin Clark, who has performed Divine Service for me one Sunday at 
Batavia," and further that "The Rev. Alanson W. Welton, under whose 
assiduous labors the Church in Batavia was planted, officiated one day, 
and administered the Holy Communion" — [This is the first record extant, of 
the administration of this Sacrament in St. James' Church.] 

It may here be remarked that no Parish Register appears to have been, 
kept, from the Organization of the Church up to 1823, and also that the 
records of the election of Wardens and Vestrymen for the years 1820, 1821 
tind 1822 are lost. The only record in 1822 is, that a Vestry meeting held 
June first, adopted "the silver seal made by Joseph Davis, as the seal of 
this corporation." (That seal is still in use.) 

It is unfortunate that the record of 1822 was not preserved, because that 
was an important year in the history of the Church, and the names of the 
Wardens and Vestrymen under whose auspices the Church was finished, 
ought to have been perpetuated on its records. We discover, however, that 
the following composed a majority of the number, as they appear on the 
record of a Vestry meeting held December 12, 1822, (viz:) Ostvald Wil- 
liams, Warden; John Z. Ross, William Davis, David E. Evans, Daniel 
H. Chandler, and Richard Smith, Vestrymen. 

It has already been stated that the Church, erected and covered in 1816, 
was sufTered to remain in an unfinished state until 1822. Early in that 
year it was resolved to make an effort for its completion, and an arrange- 
ment was made with Trumbull Cary and Wm. Davis for them to go on 
and finish it, holding the Church as security, but relying on the sale of 
Pews and Slips, for prompt payment. Under that arrangement, the Church 
was promptly completed, and the same summer tlie Rev. Levi S. Ives, 
(now Bishop of North Carolina,) was invited to minister at its Altar. 

A debt of between four and five thousand dollars having accrued for fin- 
ishing the Church, (exclusive of the sum originally paid for its erection in 
1816,) thirty -two members of the Parish came forward on the 28th August 
1822, and subscribed to the amount of $5,100 for the purpose of liquidating 
the same, each subscriber being entitled to receive the amount of his sub- 
scription in Pews and Slips. 

On the 7th of April 1823, the Vestry appointed Nathan Follett and 
Daniel H. Chandler, a committee to contract with James Cochran for a 
Church Bell, to weigh 800 pounds, and to pay him for the same $300, and 
a Slip in the Church valued at $75. A contract was accordingly made, 
and the Bell, cast by Mr. Cochran in this village, still hangs in the Tower 
of St. James. It has already tolled the funeral knell of many who aided in 
placing it there, and may ere long sound the requium of the last of that 



33 

On the 7th of April 1S23, the Vestry appointed Nathan Follett and 
Daniel H. Chandler, a committee to contract with James Cochran for a 
Church Bell, to weigh 800 pounds, and to pay him for the same $300, and a 
Slip in the Church valued at $75. A contract was accordingly made, and 
the Bell, cast by Mr. Cochran in this village, still hangs in the Tower of 
St. James. It has already tolled the funeral knell of many who aided in 
placing it there, and may ere long sound the requium of the last of that 
number, but though it reach not their "dull cold ear," a long line of future 
generations may be gladdened by its voice as it summons them to the House 
of Prayer. 

The Rev. Mr. Ives continued his ministrations until about the first of 
July 1823, when the Rev. Lucius Smith was invited to supply his place, and 
who, on the 18th of August following, was duly elected Rector of the Church. 

In 1825, the Vestry, through the agency of David E. Evans, Trumbull 
Gary, Silas Finch, and Ebbnezer Mix, procured oiHall ^- Erben, New 
York, the Organ now in the Church, at an expense of $1,350. 

We now pass on to 1833, with the single remark, personal though it is, 
that the writer of this sketch having connected himself with this Church 
early in 1828, became a member of the Vestry, on the 15th April 1830, 
and from that time to the present, without intermission, has been a mem- 
ber of that Board. 

In August 1833, the Rev. Lucius Smith resigned the Rectorship of the 
Church, to take effect on the first of October, and from that time for nearly 
one year. Religious Services were chiefly conducted by Rev. John F. Ernst, 
who was then the teacher of a select school in the Village. On the 24th 
June 1834, the Vestry invited the Rev. James A. Bolles, to become the 
Minister of the Parish, who ultimately consented to the proposition and en- 
tered upon his engage ment on the first of September following. 

For some time previous to this, the old Brick Church had become so de- 
fective as to create a desire for one more safe and substantial, and that 
sentiment continued to increase until the spring of 1835, when it was 
resolved to tear it down and build a new one of Stone; and on the 16th 
March, Daniel H. Chandler, John S. Ganson, and Walter M. Seymour, 
were appointed a committee to obtain subscriptions for that purpose. 

The following persons were elected Wardens and Vestiymen, April 20, 
1835, (viz:) William Seaver and Joel Allen, Wardens; David E. Evans, 
Trumbull Cary, Frederick FoUett, Daniel H. Chandler, John S. Ganson, 
Nathan FoUett, Walter M. Seymour, and Timothy Fitch, Vestrymen. — 
This Board, after appointing Frederick FoUett, Clerk; William Seaver, 
Treasurer; Harriett Hull, Organist, and Wm. Preston, Sexton, passed a 
resolution appointing "Nathan FoUett, Timothy Fitch, and William Davis 
a committee to superintend the building of the contemplated neiv Church,'' 
and if at all practicable, that it should bo completed during that year, to- 
gether with a Parsonogr House. 



84 

Sufficient funds having been subscribed (including the niateriala of the 
old Church, which the contractors received in part, payment for the new one,) 
a contract was made with Thomas McCulley to do the mason work, and 
Thomas J. Hoyt, the wood work of the new Church and Parsonage, includ- 
ing Barn and Out Houses, appurtenant thereto. The original contract for 
the whole was $9,660, (To McCulley $4,866, and to Hoyt $4,794,) to thia 
was added for extra work $848, which made the total amount $10,508,00. 

Sundry other expenses were incurred about the establishment, so that 
when the whole was completed, near the close of 1835, the entire cost waa 
not far from $12,000. The slips were sold in the Church, at public auction 
on the 27th of January, 1836, by Wm. Seaver, who was appointed by the 
Vestry to make the sales, and, also, to execute Deeds for the same. It 
should be noted that the new Church was erected on the same ground cov- 
ered by the old one, and that the original Lot, together with a quantity of 
land sufficient for the Parsonage house, garden, &c., was given to the Church 
by David E. Evans, Esq. It is also worthy of mention, that in addition to 
the land, and a munificent subscription of $1500, Mr. Evans presented the 
splendid chandeliers, now suspened in the Church, which cost in New York, 
where they were manafactured to order, $525. Trinity Church, New York 
also, made a donation of $1,000, and it w^ould give us pleasure to record the 
very liberal subscriptions of every member of the Parish, but we fear our 
notice is already too much extended. 

To show the large amount expended by this Parish for church purposes, 
and also, to illustrate the disastrous effects of bad building, it should fur- 
thermore be stated, that in consequence of the imperfect construction of the 
roof to the new Church, it had stood but ".bout six years, when the entire 
roof with the ceiling over head had to be removed, and replaced with new, 
at great expense and trouble. In 1842 a Gallery was erected in the Church, 
(there having been none in the original plan,) at an expense of more than 
$600. 

We close our notice of this Church by simply ramarking, that it is now 
nearly free from debt, that the Rev. Mr. Bolles, after a ministration of 
nearly fifteen years, still remains its highly acceptable Rector, and that the 
following compose the present Vestry, (viz:) JVilUamSeavcr, and Trumbull 
Cary. Wardens; Benjamin Prins:lc, John S. Ganson, JVathan Follett, Wm. 
H. Wells, John H. Martindale, Jnnms A. Smith, H. U. Sopcr, and C. R. 
Ganson, Vestrymen. 

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The earliest information respecting the origin of that Church in this place, 
together with many other particulars in regard to its progress, we derive 
from Mr. Thomas McCulley, who took up his residence here in the spring 
of 1816, and from that time to the present, has continued one of the moat 
active and prominent members of that Communion. 



35 

Although it ia recollected by several, that religioua servicea wero occa- 
sionally performed in the village at quite an early day, by Circuit Preach- 
ers, we are unable to learn the names of those who first officiated, or tho 
first organization of a Class. The earliest date of which there is any writ- 
ten memorandum, is in 1816, when it appears that the Rev. Mr Harris and 
the Rev. Mr. Emmett, were stationed on this Circuit. In 1817, Eidera 
' Davis, and O'Fling, were stationed on it, and in 1818, it was supplied by 
Elder Micau Seager, and Elder Foster. (Elder Seager still continues in 
the ministry, and now resides in Byron. 

I.\C0RP0RATI0iV OF THE CHURCH. 

On Wednesda}^, Dec. 15th, 1819, a meeting was held at the Court House 
in this village, agreeable to previous notice, for the purpose of organizing 
a Methodist Church under the Lav/ of 1813, and the Rev. Elisha Howsk 
presided, assisted by Jeremiah Bennett. On that occasion Thomas Mc- 
CuLLE}^, Samuel F. Geer, Jeremiah Bennett, Seymour Ensign, and 
Silas Hollister, were elcted Trustees of the "Congregation to be denom- 
inated and known in Law by the name of the Trustees of 2Vie First Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church in Bataviu. The Record was witnessed by C. 
Carpenter, and J. W. C. Coffin; acknowledged before Ralph Coffin, 
Commissioner fee, and Recorded by R. C. Smead, Dep. Clerk. [Mr. 
Smead, then Dep. Co. Clerk under his Uncle Simeon Cummings, was sub- 
sequetly educated at West Point, joined the Army as Lieut, of Artillery, 
was promoted to a Captaincy, did good service in Florida, bore a gallant 
part in the late war v^'ith Mexico, and returning with his Command, which 
was among the last to leave that Country after the peace, he was attacked with 
Yellow Fever on his passage home, of which he died soon after his arrival,] 

After this organization, nothing worthy of note up to 1823, appears to 
have occurred, except that Elders Paddock, and Beckwith officiated here 
in 1820, Hall, and Paddock, in 1821, Gilmore and Bennett, in 1822, and 
Orcutt andBAGGERLY in 1823. The society having increased in numbers, 
and there being no convenient place for meetings, it was resolved to make 
an effort to erect a Chapel, and on the 26th of May, 1823, a subscription 
paper was drawn up, and a sufficient amount raised to warrant the under- 
taking. Joseph Ellicott made the largest subscription, which was $250, 
cash, and a Lot upon which to erect the Chapel, valued at $250. 

In consequence of previous neglect, it now became necessary to re-incor- 
porate the society, and for that purpose a meeting was hold "at the West 
School House in the Village of Batavia, being the place where the Congre- 
gation steadily attended for Divine worship, on Monday the 16th day of 
June 1823." Rev. John Arnold presided, assisted by Thomas McCulley; 
when Amherst Crane, Phinehas Silsby Samuel F. Geer, Silas Hollister, and 
Libeous Graves, were duly elected Trustees. 

This Board of Trustees, on the 23d of June 1823, contracted withThomaa 
McCulley, Joseph Shaw, and Seymour Ensign, for tho building of a Stono 



36 

Meeting House "to be 40 feet front and rear, 45 feet deep, and 26 feet high." 
McCulley was to do[the mason work for $762. Shaw, the out-side carpen- 
ter and joiner work for $511, and Ensjgn, the inside joiner work, for $400. 
Subsequently Shaw assumed Ensign's contract, and he and McCulley went 
on and promptly completed the building, at an ultimate cost, including ex- 
tras, of about $2,800. That building, known as the " Stone Chapel," was 
several years since disposed of by the Methodist Church, and having passed 
through several private hands, is now in charge of Mr. Moses Savercool, 
as Trustee of the Freewill Baptist Society. That society is now dissolved, 
as we are informed, and the building, now unoccupied, is verging to decay. 

The location of the Stone Chapel was never considered a favorable one, 
and as time rolled on and the Society increased, so the desire increased for 
a more central location, until at length, in 1841, it was resolved to build a 
new Meeting House. Accordingly, on the 26th of January of that year, a 
subscription was opened, and a sufficient amount raised to accomplish the 
object. 

On the 10th of May, 1841, a contract was executed between Joel Ranney, 
Onis Page, Benjamin C. Page, Thomas McCulley, and John Lowber, as 
Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Jonathan Hutchins, and 
Henry S. Hulin, as builders, for the erection of a Meeting House, to be of 
wood 60 feet deep, 40 feet wide, and 22 feet high, to be completed by the 
last of Dec. following for the sum of $1900. This was exclusive of the 
stone foundation, subscribed to be built by Thos. McCulley at an estimated 
value of $150, and when the whole was finished the entire cost, including 
the lot given by John Lowber, and the foundation walls by Mr. McCulley, 
was about $3000. It is a plain, neat structure, very conveniently situated 
on Jackson street, and is kept well painted and in good repair, as all churches 
should be. It is called St, John's Church. 

Since the erection of the new church nothing remarkable has transpired 
in its history, further than that the Society is out of debt and going oji 
prosperously. We close our notices of this Church by enumerating its pres- 
ent officers, as follows : 

Philo Woodworth, Preacher in charge; Alva Smith, John Dorman, Wm, 
H. Davis, Robert G, Butler, and Eben. B, Morgan, Trustees; John Dorman, 
Chester White, Thos. McCulley, Chauncey Kirkham, E, B, Morgan, Ste- 
phen Tuttle, and Asa Flint, Stewards; Robert G. Butler, Wm. H. Davis, 
Stephen Tuttle, and John Lowber, Class Leaders. 

BAPTIST CHURCH, 

As this Church and Society is of comparatively recent origin in this place, 
its history lies within a narrow compass, 

By reference to the original Record we find that a meeting was held at 
the Court House on the 19th of November, 1835, "for the purpose of origi- 
nating said Society according to Law." On that occasion Gideon Ken- 
DRicK, and P. S. Mokfit. were chosen to preside at the meeting. It was 



next "votedt hat this Society be called the Bapliiit Society of Balavia Vil- 
lage,^'' and Richard Covell jr., John Dorman, Wm. Blossom, Win. D. Popple, 
and Calvin Foster, were elected its first Trustees. 

At the time the Society was organized in 1835, the Rev. J. Clark was 
employed as its first pastor, and the present Meeting House, on Jackson 
Street, was built the same year. Having been unable to obtain any record 
respecting the Building, we can merely state from our own recollection, 
that it was erected by T. J, Hoyt and Thomas McCulley, and that the Lot 
upon which it stands was presented to the Society for that purpose, by Wm. 
D. Popple. 

In 1836, the Rev. Wm. W. Smith succeeded Elder Clark, and contin- 
ued until 1839. In February, 1840, the Rev. S. A. Estbe took the spiritual 
cha.rge of the Society and remained until May, 1842. The next regular 
Pastor was Rev, Gibbon William.s, who entered upon his Ministerial en- 
gagement in August, 1844, and remained one year. 

In September 1845, the Rev, S, M, Stimson was called to the Pastoral 
office, and still remains the popular minister of the Society. 

In 1847, the Meeting House vvas extensively and thoroughly repaired, and 
its whole internal arrangement changed, so as to render it very pleasant and 
commodious. When this Church was formed, the number of the communi- 
cants was 24; it is now 175, 

The present Trustees of the society, are John C'olman, Onan Dustin, 
Samuel Churchill, John B. Holton, Wm. Blossom, and B, Buzwell. 

BIBLE SOCIETY, 

Having closed our notices of the Churches, jt will be appropriate to in- 
troduce the first movement in this place, in regard to the formation of a 
Bible Society, the original record of which has been preserved by Thomas 
McCulley, and is as follows : 

" At a meeting of a number of the Inhabitants of the town of Batavia, 
pursuant to previous notice, for the purpose of forming a department of the 
Genesee County Bible Society, convened at the Brick School House in the 
Village of Batavia, on the 5th of April 1819, when the Rev, Mr. Cijapin 
was appointed Moderator, and Thomas McCulley Secretary. 

" The object of the meeting being disclosed by E. B. Allen Esq,, they 
proceeded to nominate Officers for this departm.ent when the following 
gentlemen were duly elected^ 

EPHRAIM TOWNER, Chairman. 
THOMAS McCULLEY, Clerk. 
PARMENIO ADAMS, Treasurer. 
URIAL SPENCER, Collector, 
Lemuel Foster, Amherst Crane, Ahimaz Brainard, Thomas McCul^ 
S/EY, Distributing Committee. 

Adjourned to the last Tuesday in December next. 



33 

Again we go back to notice a few things of an early (Into wliich wore 
omitted in their order. 

The first physician who located in this place was Doct. David Mc- 
Cracken, who came here in 1801, and took up the lot or rather two lots 
of 40 acres each, on the south side of Main Street, being that which is now 
bounded west by Jackson street, north by Genesee Street, east by Liberty 
Street, and extending south to Tonawanda Creek. It was then a dense 
forest, but now a central and most valuable portion of the village. 

The Doctor erected a log Hous<? on the ground now covered by the dwel- 
ling House of Mrs Otto, directly oposite the American Hotel, and for many 
years was the most extensive and popular practitioner in this region. 
He was a Physician of the old school, and what he lacked in medical sci- 
ence was in a measure compensated by an ample supply of natural endow- 
ments. Possessing a fine personal appearance, great conversational pow- 
ers—affable and familiar in his manners, these, together with a ready wit, 
ingenuity, and peculiar tact of inspiring in his patients courage and con- 
fidence, contributed in no small degree to render him one of the most con- 
spicuous personages in the early history of this locality. 

After living several years in the log house Dr. McCracken built a small 
frame dwelling on the ground upon which Gen. E.B.Allen subsequent- 
ly erected the noble mansion now occupied by his widow and son-in-law, 
Gen. I. A. Verplanck. Some twenty years since, the Doct., having dis- 
posed of his property in this place, removed to Rochester, where he died. 

Doct. Town, the Father of Mr. Norman Town, settled here not long af- 
ter Dr. McCracken, but survived only four or five years. 

In 1810 or 11 when rumors of war began to agitate the country, our pub- 
lic authorities looking forward to such an event as by no means improba- 
ble, and seeing the exposed condition of this frontier, determined to make 
some preparation for its defence, and to erect a Depot at this place for the 
storage of Arms and other munitions of War. In pursuance of this de- 
termination, a contract was made by the State with Joseph EUicott to erect 
an ^rsejiaZ, (so called) and which soon after appeared in the shape of a 
building about 20 feet square and 12 feet high, made of hewn logs, and sit- 
uated above the mill, on the opposite side and near the bend of the creek, 
on the Alexander Road. 

That building answered all the purposes intended, until about the close 
of the war, when the large stone Arsenal now standing at the west end of 
the village, was erected by the State, under the supervision of Maj. Isaac 
Sutherland, and the old log Arsenal, once emblazoned with the implements 
of war and trophies of victory, was degraded to the ignoble purpose of a 
Distillery. 

For several years after the settlement of the village, Merchant's Gooda 
were sold at what would now be considered an enormous price. As a proof 
of this, and to show the difference between the past and the preeent, we 



39 

will etato one fact derived from reliable authority. Those familiar with 
the Land Office will recollect the immense maps of the Holland Purchase, 
which were mounted on double rollers, and turned back and forth in their 
cases by means of cranks. Those maps when originally constructed were 
pasted upon calico to preserve them from injury. It took about 40 yards 
for thewhole, which, in the language of our informant was of the coarsest 
kind, dark brown ground, interspersed regularly with round white spots. — 
It was strong, but of the texture which old women used to describe as 
"Grape Vine] Warp, filled with Pea-brush and oven-wood." The price, 
however, was 07ie dollar per yard. The same would be now dear at six- 
pence. 

We now pass over several years, in which nothing is discoverable worthy 
of note, and will merely stop at 1819, to give our own recollection of the 
Merchants, Tavern-keepers, Lawyers, and a few others, who were on thg 
Ftage at that time. 

The Merchants were,James Brisbane, Gary fc Davis, Jonathan Lay, VVm. 
II. Wells, J. P. k A. Smith, and W. S. Moore k. Go. 

Druggists — Hewitt &-Billings,andH. Tisdale. Ephrain Towner,Leath- 
er k. Shoe Store; G. G. Ghurch, Jeweller; Miss. Ann Forbes, Milliner; 
James Gawte, H. B. Pierpont, and Samuel Mead, Tailors; Nathan Follctt, 
Hatter; Wm. Keyes, Hinman Holden, Horace Gibbs, Mrs Leonard, and Jo- 
seph Baker, Tavern-Keepers; Richard Smith, Daniel B. Brown, P. L. Tra- 
cy, Ethan B. Allen, T. G. Love, C. Garpenter, Lawyers; D. McCrack- 
en, Ephrain Brown, JohnGotcs, Winter Hewitt, John Z. Ross, Physicians; 
Simeon Gummings, Saddler; Thos. Bliss, Gabinet &, Ghair Maker; E. 
Towner, and Oswald Williams, Tanners. 

The first meet market in this village of which we have any information, 
was established by Mr. Folsom, in 1819, where the Eagle Taven now 
etands. 

The first regular Book-Store in Town, was opened in Jan. 1819 by 
Oran Follett, simultaneously with the 'Spirit of the Times'printing estab- 
lishment. It was in a two-story wood building subsequently called the 
Recess, on the ground now covered by the "Ganson Block," on the North 
pide of Genesee street. The upper story was occupied by Mr. Follett as 
a Printing office, under which was his Book Store, and directly below, in 
the basement, was a Grocery kept by Wm. R. Thompson. That build- 
ing was afterward consumed by the great fire which destroyed the Gibbs 
Tavern, (where the Genesee House now stands) and all the intermediate 
buildings. How long Mr. Follett continued the 'Batavia Book Store' we 
are not certain, but think it was disposed of to Henry Tisdale, who opened 
a. Book Store in a wood building directly west of Gary k, Davis, (now^S. 
Grants Store) on the 11th of Oct. 1820. 

The first Fire of any material consequence that ever occurred in the 
village, was on the night of the 22d Dec, 1831. It originated in a build- 



40 

ding eitualed on the lot next West of where J. Kenyon's store now stands, 
and was thus described in the 'Spirit of the Times.' "Tlie flames were 
discovered to proceed from a block of buildings occupied as stores and 
shops on the north side of Main Street, and exhibited to the agitated minds 
of our citizens a scene terrible and alarming in the highest degree : the des- 
tructive element was raging with the greatest fury in the heart of our vil- 
lage, and a prospect almost inevitable of the fairest portion of it being laid 
in ashes. The fire had made such progress before it was discovered, as 
to forbid all attempts to save the buildings situated on either side o f Mr. 
Ij. Baker's Silversmith shop where it is supposed the fire originated. 
The active exertions of the citizens were turned to prevent it extending its 
ravages to the adjacent building. The struggle was long and doubtful, 
but the cool and deliberate action of a few individuals, favored by the still- 
ness of the night, and the constant pouring of water over the sides of the 
exposed buildings, accomplished at last what tlie most sanguine hardly 
dare hope. 

"Mr. Gibb's dwelling house on the west,(on the corner of Main and Me- 
chanic's St.) and the Grocery Store of Mr. Davis at the east, (where the 
building next east of John Kenyon's Store now stands) were situated but 
a few feet from the buildings burnt, yet they were saved with no other 
means than the use of buckets. The injury they sustained is trifling. 

"The destruction of property is of considerable amount. Three build- 
ings destroyed. One of them was occupied by Messrs ]\roore & Finch 
as a Dry-goods store and owned by Mr. Horace Gibbs. Another by L. Ba- 
ker as a Silver-smith shop, also owned by Mr. Horace Gibbs. The oth- 
er was occupied by Mr. James P. Smith, Merchant, Charles C. Church, 
watch-maker. The upper part was occupied by D. C. Miller Esq., as the 
Advocate Printing Office, which was totally destroyed. The building was 
owned by Messrs. F. k T. Palmer. Mr. Miller is Probably the greatest 
sufferer in this dreadful calamity, having lost the whole of his printing 
apparatus, list-books, accounts Uc. 

"The amount of property destroyed may be estimated at about $10,000. 
The greatest amount was consumed in the building occupied by Messrs. 
Moore & Finch, but it gives us pleasure to state, that their loss, between 
5 k. $6,000 was covered by an insurance. 

The fire thus described, and which at the time produced a deep sensation, 
gave the first impulse towards procuring an Act Incorporating the Village. 
For this purpose a meeting of the citizens was held on the 23d of June, 
1822, and a committee consisting of Silas Finch, Wm. H. Wells, and 
Trumbull Gary, was appointed to petition the Legislature for such act of 
Incorporation. A petition was accordingly presented to the Legislature 
then in session, but for some cause it failed of success. At the next ses- 
Bion it was renewed, and on the 23d of April, 1823, a charter was granted. 



The fii\st meeting of the inhabitants in pursuance of thia Act of Incorpo- 
ration, was held at James Ganson's Tavern, June 3(1, 1823. C. Carpenter, 
and D. Tisdale, Justices of the Peace presided, at which time the following 
persons were elected officers for the first year, viz: 

DANIEL H.CHANDLER, ) 
DAVID E. EVANS, | 

NATHAN FOLLETT, )■ Trustees. 
SIMEON CUMMINGS, 
SILAS FINCH, J 

TRUMBULL GARY, Treasurer, 
PARLEY PAINE, Collector. 
On the 14th of June the Trustees appointed Daniel H. Chandler Presi- 
dent of the corporation, and Oliver G. Adams Clerk. vSilas Finch and Nathan 
Follett, were appointed Assessors, Simeon Cummings, Superintendant of 
streets and side-walks, and Robert P. Betts, Pound keeper. 

The Trustees at once adopted various salntary munincipal regulations, 
and the village soon began to exhibit manifest improvements, particularly in 
regard to streets and side-walks. Measures were also adopted in regard to 
Fires, but for want of means to purchase an Engine, no Fire Company was 
organized until the 20th of April, 1824, at which time an ordinance was 
passed establishing one, toconsist of the following members (viz:) 

William Seaver, jr., Captain — Hiriman Holden, Daniel H. Chandler, 
Frederick Follett, Wm. Purcell, Parley Paine, Oran Follett, Wm. Piatt, 
Daniel Gates, Ralph Stiles Hezekiah D. Piatt, Wm. Dickinson, Charles C. 
Church, Nathan Follett, Walter M. Seymour, Norman Town, Wm. R. 
Thompson, Benjamin Allen, Stephen Grant, Nahum Loring, John S. Moore, 
Jonathan Lay, HoraceGibbs, David M. Gardner, Rufus Burnham. 

Of this company which consisted of 25 men, seven still reside in this vil- 
lage, eight are known to have died, and the remainder have removed to va- 
rious parts widely separate, of whom Mr. Gibbs, now in California, is the 
most I'emote. Long has the original members of that company ceased to 
assemble at the alarm of the "fire bell," but a day is approaching when the 
sound of a trumpet louder than that of the Captain, will reach their ears, and 
call them to meet again as we hope, in " that city which hath foundations, 
whose builder and maker is God." 

It would probably be uninteresting to trace the corporation through its 
existencefor 26 years, up to this time; we will therefore let it suffice to give 
a list of the Presidents, and the present officers. 

PRESIDENTS OF THE CORPORATlOiV. 

Dan 1 H. Chandler, 1823; Wm. Keyes, 1824: Johnson Goodwill, 1825; 
Charles C. Church, 1826; Hinman Holden. 1827 and 1828; Simeon Cumings, 
1829; Frederick Follett, 1830 and 1831; Nathan Follett, 1832; Daniel 
H. Chandler, 1833; Augustus C. Stevens, 1834; Simeon Cumings, 1835; 
Nathan Follett, 1836; William Seaver, 1837; Timothy Fitch, 1838; Ben- 
jamin Pringle, 1839; Frederick Follett, 1840; Edgar C. Dibble, 1841; Ira 



42 

Beldeli, 1842; James D. Merrill, 1S43; Lucius A. Smith, 1844; Junius A, 
Smith, 1845; Nathan FoUelt, 1840;.. James D, Merrill, 1847; Joseph Clark, 
1848; H'jnman Holden, 1849. 

The I 'resent officers of the corporation, for li849, are, Hinmaa Holden, 
Rufus Ri ibertson, M. Wells Hewitt, Corneal R. Ganson, and Frederick 
Follett, 1 'rustees; Wm. S. Mallory, 'Seih Wakeman, and Beajamin C, Page^ 
Assessors ; Alvin Pease, Consta ble and Collects; Branon Young, Treas- 
urer; Aug "ustus Cowdin Clerk. 

We will . now recur to 1822 for the purpose of noticing an extraordinary- 
trial and c( mviction that took place here, and which is not generally known, 
except to t he older inhabitants. 

A man by the name of Farnsworth was arrested in this county, and com- 
mitted to pi'ison, on the charge of ha.\'ij\g forged United States Land war- 
rants and a. U. S. District Court was ordered to be held for his trial. The 
Court was accordingly held in this village in July 1822 by the Hon. Roger 
Skinner District Judge, and Jacob Sutherland Esq. (subsequently one of 
the Judo-es of the Supreme Court of this State,) acted as U. S. District 
Attorney. 

The complaint was laid before a full and very intelligent Grand Jury, who, 
after due investigation, presented a true Bill, and upon which, Farnsworth 
was immediately arraigned and put upon his trial. The cause was ably 
manao-ed on both sides, Gen. Ethan B. Allen acting as Counsel for the De- 
fendant, and after a patient investigation, in which the Indictment was 
fully sustained, the Judge, having given a strong charge against the pris- 
oner, committed his case to the Jury, who soon came into court with a ver- 
dict oi guilty. Death was the only penalty " known to the laws " for such 
an attrocious{ !) offence, and accordingly poor Farnsworth was sentenced to 
be hung on the 20th day of September following. 

Gen. Allen immediately forwarded a petiton to the President of the U. S. 
for a Pardon or Reprive of the Culprit, but on what particnlar ground the 
application was predicated we are unable to state. Meanwhile time flew 
swiftly on, and at length the fatal day arrived which was to terminate his 
mortal cai'eer. Thousands upon thousands, actuated by that morbid curios- 
ity which such tragical scenes always inspires, flocked to the village " to 
see the dear creature suffer," when, lo! to their utter chagrin and disappoint- 
ment, it was announced that the President had suspended Ms execution for 
six months. 

It would be amusing to relate the loud and bitter complaints with which 
our streets rang against the President, for thus thwarting their expectations, 
and " arresting the course of justice ! " and so determined were many not to 
leave town without at least a glimpse of the " monster," that it was said, 
(though we will not vouch for its truth) that the Turnkey, unbeknown to 
the Sheriff or Jailor, unable to resist their importunities, and willing also to 
make an honest penny, brought Farnsworth out, seated him on the platform 



43 

at the north door of the old Court House, which nt that time was hid from 
public view by a high board fence, and admitted them into this jail yard 
through the back gate,at a shillng a head,to see the show. 

The sequel will show the extraordinary character of this transaction, and 
that the whole matter from beginning to end, was little better than a solemn 
farce. No sooner had the President (Monroe) taken time to examine the 
case, than it was at once discovered tliat Farnsworth had violated no law of 
tiie United States, and that his trial and conviction was wholly unjustifiable, 
there being no Statute recognizing as an offence the act with which he wag 
-charged. In short the result was, that the President granted a free pardon 
to Farnsworth, and ordered his discharge from custody. 

Passing rapidly on we come to the '■'Morgan Affair,''' (so called,) one of 
the most extraordinary and lamentable events with which the history of 
Batavia is connected. 

It is not our purpose to detail that foul transaction, for the reason that 
innumerable tongues and pecs have already been employed to give every 
shade and feature of it the most ample notority. It will be sufficient there- 
fore to state briefly, that on the Hth September 1826 a man by the name 
of William Morgan, then residing in this village, who, in conjunction 
with David C Miller, it was said was about to disclose the secrets of Free- 
masonry, was arrested and conveyed to Canandaigua on a criminal war- 
rant issued by a^ magistrate of that place, predicated upon a complaint 
against him for stealing some trifling articles. 

Having been acquitted of that charge, he was immediately arrested again 
and put in jail, for a debt of about $2. It appears that during the same 
evening, he was discharged from prison, secr^tlj' lorced into a close car- 
riage, and driven with great caution and speed from Canandaigua by way 
of Rochester and Lewiston to Fort Niagara, from whence no positive 
trace of him has ever been discovered. His sudden and mysterious dis- 
appearance, taken in conuection with prior circumstances growing out 
of his threatened exposition of Masonry, soon created a violent presumption 
that he had fallen a victim to a portion of the Masonic fraternity. Thia 
gave rise to a m.ost vigorous, long continued, and searching investigation 
which resulted in satisfying the public mind generally, that Morgan had 
perished by the hands of certain members of that Fraternity and that hia 
body had been sunk in Niagara River or Lake Ontario. Search was ac- 
cordingly made there for his remains, but without success, and the place 
where it rests is still veiled in mystery. 

It may be interesting here to state an extraordinary circumstance COU' 
nected with this search, and which at the time^produced an intense excite- 
ment. 

In Oct. 1827, about elev(^ months after the abduction of Morgan, and' 
when further search for him seemed hopeless, the dead body of a man was 
discovered on the beach of Lake Ontario near the mouth of Oak Orchard 



44 

Creek, supposed to liave been drowned and washed ashore. An Inquest 
was held, the body examined, and no one recognizing it, or suspected any- 
thing but a case of accidental droAvning,it was quietly buried and the clothes 
in which it was found preserved. 

As the abduction of Morgan was then universally known, and as it vvaa 
generally supposed that he had been deposited in Niagara River or Lake 
Ontario, an idea was conceived that the body just found might possibly 
be his, and such was the feverish state of the public mind, that no sooner 
had the suspicion found utterance than rumor with her thousand tongues 
spread it abroad magnified into indubitable truth, that 'Morgan was found.' 

So firmly was it believed that Committees from this place and Roch- 
ester were sent to make a critical examination, who, after disintering and 
closely inspecting the body, were unable to make up a decided opinion 
W'ithout first obtaining a minute description of Morgan from those more 
familiar than they,with his personal appearance. The committee from this 
place accordingly returned and after closely questioning some of his most 
intimate friends, at once . decided from indubitable evidence that it was 
fioi the body cf Morgan. Such a decision however, did not suit the views 
of certain designing men, who, for political purposes, had determined, right 
or v.'rong, to m.ake it "a good-enough Morgan until after election," and ac- 
cordingly the body was again exhumed and brought to this village with 
no small parade, as the veritable remains of Morgan, 

On arriving here it was first placed in the yard in front of James Bris- 
bane's present dwelling house, where, for several hours it was exposed to 
public gaze, and large numbers (among whom was the writer) visited the 
spot to view the loathsome spectacle which scarcely retained a single 
lineament of humanity. It was a scene well calculated by the chief man- 
ager (D. C. Miller) to produce an effect upon the populace, and furnished 
an admirable opportunity for reenacting the part of Mark Anthony over the 
dead body of Caezar. After this, a funeral procession was formed, Mrs. 
Morgan being the chief mourner, and the body w'as conveyed to our vil- 
lage grave yard, v;here it was deposited, and where it still moulders. 

Meanwhile a report of these events having reached Niagara, it was there 
recollected that several weeks previous, a man by the name of Timotht 
Mo.NROE was drowned at the mouth of Niagara River, and from the de* 
scription, it was believed that the body found at Oak Orchard might be 
his. A message to that effect was sent to his widow then residing in 
the vicinity of Toronto, who at once came on in hope of discovering the re- 
mains of her husband. In the first place she was rigidly questioned as 
to the clothes w-orn by hira when drowned, and without seeing them, the 
very minute description which she gave, corresponded so exactly with the 
clothing and the body found at Oak Orchard, that not a doubt remained 
upon unprejudiced minds of it? identity as that of her husband. 



f 



45 

This discovery, according to our recolleclion, was soon after tho Body 
had been removed to this place; at all events, to settle the question of iden- 
tity, a further examination v\ras resolved upon, and accordingly a Coroners 
Inquest was held at the CourtHouso in this village, Mrs. Monroe being pres- 
ent, and after again examining the body, and going through with a long and 
tedious examination of witnesses, tiie Jury determined that it was Tim- 
othy Monroe, and not Wm. Morgan. 

Thus was that grave question disj^sed of in accordance with truth and 
public opinion ; but it by no means gave quiet to the public mind, or atoned 
for the guilt of Morgan's abduction ; on the contrary it seemed to give a fresli 
impulse, not only to more vigorous efforts to discover the guilty, but also 
for the entire overthrow of the Masonic Institution. Hence the origin of the 
"Anti-Masonic Party," and a continuance of those legal investigations 
which for three years occupied the attention of our Courts in several of tlia 
western counties, 

A quarter of a century has nearly elapsed since the perpetration of tliat 
act of wickedness and folly, and the bitterness of feeling which it engend- 
ered through all the ranks of society has subsided, and we would not now 
call it to mind, even in this brief and imperfect manner, did it not constitute 
one of the most prominent and notorious e\ents with which Batavia was 
ever connected. 

We pass on to 1833, which was a calamitous year for the village in con- 
sequence of two destructive Fires. The first occurred on the 4th of March» 
and is thus described in the "Advocate" of the following day: 

"At about two o'clock yesterday morning our citizens were alarmed by 
the cry of fire ! It was first discovered in a wooden building on Main streeti 
near the corner of Jackson street, occupied by a Billiard Recess. Before 
the flames could be subdued, this building was consumed, together with one 
on the west side, occupied by Mr. Wm. Manley as a saddler's shop, and two 
small ones on the east side, the one occupied by G. C. Towner Esq. as a 
Law Office, and the other by Mr. Wentworth as a Shoe Shop. The pro- 
gress of the fire was arrested by pulling down two small buildings on the west 
side of those consumed. The goods and contents were all saved except the 
furniture of the Gamblers Retreat. Whole loss estimated at $1500 to $2000. 

Severe as was this fire, it was soon followed by one far more destructive, 
and which laid waste a wide space in one of the most central parts of the 
village. It occurred on the 19th of April, 1833, and was described as fol- 
lows in the Advocate of April 23rd. 

"Between one and two o'clock on Friday morning last, our citizens were 
again aroused by the cry of fire! It originated in one of the small wooden 
buildings nearly opposite the Eagle Tavern. It spread with great rapidity 
along Main street, until its progress eastward was arrested, though with 
difficulty, at the intersection of Mechanic street, and westward by the new 
three-story Arcade Buildings erected by A. Champion of Rochester. 



46 

"The following buildings were destroyed. The Tavovn-House at tha 
rorner of Genesee and Mechanic streets, together with its appurtenances, 
occupied by Harvey Rowe, and owned by Messrs. Lambertonand Hurlburt. 
Mr. Rowe's goods and furniture were principally saved. Loss of buildings, 
about *1200. 

An unoccupied building, o\\ ned by Joseph Wilson, which was fitting up 
for a grocery, valued at about S^300, 

A small building occupied by R. Blades as a Tailor's shop. Loss of build- 
ing about ^150. Some of Mr. Blade's goods and furniture were destroyed. 
A building owned and occupied by Joseph Wilson as a grocery, together 
with most of the goods. Loss about $500, 

The Store of Messrs. Sherman & Crandall, occupied by them as a Dry- 
Goods and Book Store, and Book Bindery, most of the goods were saved. 
Whole loss about $2,000. 

A building owned by William Dickinson, and occupied by J. T. Allen, 
Watch-maker and Jeweller, and Messrs. Gilbert & Seward, Tin and Sheet 
Iron manufacturers. Mr. Dickinson's loss $400 ; Mr. Allen about $100. 
A small building owned by Mrs. Ross, occupied by Hugh Evans as a gro- 
cery and Bakers shop, valued at about $100. 

A two-story building, owned also by Mrs. Ross, and occupied by W. P. 
Goldsmith as a Tailors shop ; Charles Seward as a dwelling ; E. C. Dibble, 
Attorney at Law, and Doct. L. B. Cotes, as a Druggist Store. In the base- 
ment story was a grocery, kept by Caleb Allen. Building estimated at 
$800, insured $300. A share of the loss is sustained by G. W. Allen, to 
whom the building was leased for a terra of years, and who had fitted it up 
and rented it to the present occupants. 

Although the number of buildings was considerable, yet as will be per- 
ceived, some of them were not of very great value. The aggregate loss of 
buildings is estimated at about $4000, There has, however, been some 
considerable other loss, but to what amount we are unable to state." 

In continuation of the calamities with which Batavia has been visited, 
we pass on to notice the tremendous conflagration which occurred on the 
30th of May 1834. We have witnessed many fires in city and town, and 
when large amounts of property have been destroyed, but this was deci- 
dedly the most furious and terrific. It took place in the afternoon of a hot 
summers day, everything combustible being exceedingly dry, the wind 
blowing strong from the southwest, and so suddenly were the two large 
Hotels inflames that all hope of saving them immediately vanished. 

The fire company (under the direction of the writer) was instantly on 
the spot, with the notable little Fire Engine called "Triton,"' and ready to 
battle the devouring element. That Engine, the pioneer of its species in 
this place, could only be worked by six men at a time, three on each crank, 
like turning a grind-stone, and its eflTect on that fire was about equal to a 
pewter syringe on the crater of Mount ^tna. 



47 

No pooner had the flamea caught the roofri of the lofty Hotels, than bt.trn- 
ing shingles were driven by the gale to great distances, and lighting on 
the roofs even as far east as Liberty street, threatened destruction to almost 
the whole village. Such probably would have been the case, had not the 
wind after about half an hour, suddenly chopped about to the northeast. — , 
So great was the danger that large nu;nber:5 were obliged to leave the im- 
mediate scene of action in order to protect tlieir own property, and there 
was scarcely a roof for a long distance on the north side of Main street that 
was not more or less on fire. We now proceed to give a more particular 
account by quoting from the "Advocate of June 3d, 1834. 

"appalling cojmflagration and destruction of property! 
The most destructive fire ever known in this county, broke out in thin 
village on Friday last, about 5 o'clock P. M. It was first discovered in 
f-ome combustible materials near the barns and stables connected with the 
Eagle Tavern, The out-houses were quickly one mass of flame, and be- 
ing situated near the Eagle Tavern, it was found to be impossible to pre- 
vent the destruction of that noble edifice, and soon the devouring element 
was seen bursting in large volumes from its windows. A gentle gale was 
blowing from the south west nearly in the direction of Genesee street, which 
caused the flames to expand along the line of buildings on the south side 
of that street with alarming rapidity, and to progress in that direction in 
spite of every effort to avert them, till every building was a blazing heap 
of ruins from the Eagle Tavern to Mr. Latimer's house near the corner 
of Jackson street, where, by indefatigable and persevering efibrts of the 
Fire Company, the march of the destroyer was at length stayed. 

The fire extended south from the Eagle Tavern along Court street to 
Mr. Wood's blacksmith shop on Bigtree street. The spectacle presented 
by the conflagration was truly appalling. The following estimate of the 
number of buildings destroyed, the amount of Insurance, loss fcc. on each, 
will be found nearly correct. 

Genesee street — B. Humphrey's Eagle Tavern, estimated loss of buil- 
dings, barns, sheds &c. $10,000. Insured $7,000. 

Tavern house occupied by H. Rowe, and owned by A. Champion of Roch- 
ester, no insurance. Loss $3000. 

Taggart k. Smith's Law Oflice, no insurance. Loss $300. 
Jones k. Leech, tailors shop, owned by M. Taggart Esq.,no insurance. 
Loss $200. 

Law Office and dwelling house, owned by T. Fitch Esq., no insurance. 
Loss $1,200, 

Building owned by E. B. Seymour, ar.d occupied by Mr.Buxton as a Cab- 
inet shop, by Gilbert fc Seward as a Tin Factory, and by T. Cole as a tai- 
lor's shop. Insured $300 Loss of building $600. 
Dwelling House owned by Mrs. Hewett, no insurance. Loss $800. 



48 

Dwelling house owned and occupied by Richard Smith Esq., no insur- 
ance. Loss $400. 

Allen in Chandler's Law Office, 

Dwelling house owned by E. B. Allen, and occupied by Mr. Ottoway, 
and Wm. Fursman. Loss $1000. 

Two Binall buildings, one occupied as a grocery and the other as a dwell- 
ing. 

Court Street. Two dwellings owned by H. & E. C. Kimberly. Loes 



Barns and sheds owned by A. Hosmer.Loss $500, 

Big-Tree street. — Two dwelling houses owned by Jesse Wood. Loss 
$900. Insured $500. 

Considerable furniture and other property were also destroyed, of which 
it is impossible to form an estimate. 

The whole number of buildings, including dwellings, barns, k.c. is about 
25. Aggregate loss of propertj', it is supposed cannot be less than $30,000." 

This was altogether the most disastrous fire which ever occured in this 
place and its effects were long and seriously felt. A large number of peo- 
ple were almost instantly rendered houseless, and one short hour was 
sufficient to lay in ruins a very large, central, and most conspicuous por- 
tion of the village. 

Severe as had been these disasters, following each other in rapid succes- 
sion, it yet remained for another visitation of the same character, before the 
waste places of former devastations had been built up. It occured the 8th 
of Nov. 1837, on the north side of Genesee Street, embracing the block 
of buildings between Mechanic's Hall and John Keny on' s present grocery 
store, and from its central position threatened a more widespread destruc- 
tion than had yet been experienced. P'ortunately, however, the evening 
was calm to which circumstance may be attributed its comparatively limited 
scope. The following brief account of it was published the following day 
in the "Spirit of the Times." 

FiKE. — On Wednesday evening between 6 and 7 o'clock our citizens 
were alarmed by the cry of fire! It was soon ascertained to be in the rear 
of a building owned by Mr. Wm. Blossom, and occupied as a dwelling by 
Mr. John Kenyon, which, together with the front or upright part of the 
building occupied by Misses Vaughns, as a Milliners shop, and Mr. Stani- 
ford as a tailor's shop, were entirely consumed. Most of the furniture was 
saved. Mr. Blossom's loss about $1,000. Insured for $500, at the Buf- 
falo office. 

The fire then extended East, consuming in its course a Barber's shop, 
G. W. Allen's Jewelry store, H. Noble's Tailor's shop, and John Kenyon's 
Grocery and Provision store. The building occupied by D. N. Tuttle as a 
hat shop, and Isaac M. Joslyn as a Gunsmith shop, was torn down, by 
which means the ravages of the fire were stayed at Mechanic's Hall. 



49 

The Buildings were old and of but little value. Messrs. Allen, Ken- 
yon, and Tuttle, have lost something-— how much we cannot say— but they 
were insured at the Genesee Mutual. 

It was a disgraceful sight to see some of our own citizens stand with 
their cloaks comfortably wrapped around them, viewing the ravages be- 
fore them, without offering to lift a finger, while others, not residents of 
the village, without a cent at stake, were laboring hard either to extinguish 
the fire or save the property of those endangered. Such men should be 
marked and remembered." 

Thus terminates the catalogue of principal fires with which this village 
has been afflicted. Few places of its size have suffered so severely, and not- 
withstanding nearly twelve years have elapsed since any serious damage 
has been sustained from that cause, still longer may it bo before an occa- 
sion transpires for extending such a record. 

The next event entitled to special notice and which constitutes an inte- 
resting and important epoch in our history, is what was called 

THE LAND OFFICE WAR. 

This occurred in 1836, and for a time produced almost as much excitement 
in certain localities, though of a different character, as that of the "Morgan 
Affair." It was spread more or less over a large portion of the "Holland 
Purchase," and this village became seriously involved in the disturbance by 
reason of its being the location of the principal Land Office. 

The origin of the difficulty, as we understand it, was briefly this : Early 
in 1836 certain companies purchased of the Holland company all its unsold 
lands, mortgages, contracts, fcc, indeed, all its remaining interest in these 
western counties, and immediately instituted a new order of things in refe- 
rence to the settlers. Previous to this, however, a restive spirit, (engen- 
dered as it was said, by certain lawyers, anxious for a fee) had for some 
time been manifested against the company in reference to its original Title 
to the lands, so that when the new landlords came'in, the settlers were by 
no means in the most amiable mood towards either the old or the new propri- 
etors. 

This state of things did not deter the new owners (or some of them at 
least) from going forward in the exercise of their legal rights and adoptin"- 
some new and more stringent measures than had before existed for the col- 
lection of land debts, and by way of stimulus to prompt payment, a little 
addition to the price of the land was also proposed in case the old contracts 
were not fulfilled. All this had the effect to exasperate many who were 
directly interested, and their indignation at length broke forth in open acts 
of violence, intended not only to affect the interests of the new proprietors, 
but also the old company in consequence of whose transfer the new order of 
things had been introduced. 

In Chautauque and the south part of Erie snd Genesee counties the ex- 
citement prevailed with more intensity than in any other sections. Large 



50 

inil cnthuBiacti ^ public meetings were there held, for the pu: rpos-c, cither by 
irn-umcnt or in. '.imitation, of inducing ihc proprietors to r cscfnd some of 
their measures i '""^ adopt a more lenient system, but as th chc movements 
failed of producin S" ^'^^ designed effect, open war was dcclaped, anti the bellig- 
erent forces were marshalled for the conflict. 

The first obiect was to destroy the Land Office at Mayr,'llc, and for that 
Durnosc a lar^e mo t' assembled on the night of Feb. 6th, 16 'Se, commenced 
the "rand assault, a.' id without meeting the slightest resist; mc e demolished 
the whole superstruc. ^ure, laying it even with the ground. Th, 5y tore open 
the vault whoso impn ^gnablo walls withstood their efforts for t hree hours, 
and havino- collected t iH the books and papers in one pile oii the ^rcen, the 
torch was applied, and they were offered up as a burnt sacrific e to Ihe demon 
ofmobocracy. 

Exultin"- in the com, olete success of this hrilliant achievement, 1!;he bellig- 
erents, taking courage from victory, began to pant for wider fields, of glory, 
and havino- proved the \ 'emper of their "maiden swords" on the F<:>rtress of 
Mavville they resolved', upon the higher and more chivalrous feat of under- 
takin"" to storm and demolish the very citadel of Land Office p'ower at 
Batavia. Accordingly emissarys were sent in every direction to r ouse up 
all the disaffected forces^ and congregate them on a certain night prepared 
for the grand assault. 

Meantime David E. Evans Esq., who then held the Land Office k.>ys, and 
who had been informed of the transactions atMayville, was also ap])rised of 
the threatened attack at Batavia, but not knowing when the demonstration 
mio-ht be made, he took the precaution to send all the books and vaklablc 
papers to Rochester beyond the reach of danger in any untoward emergency. 
Thus several weeks passed on, and as no hostile movement appeared, the 
books &c. were brought back and hopes were entertained that the storm 
would quietly subside. These hopes, however, were of short duration, for 
the fires of discontent had only been smouldering preparatory to breaking 
forth with renewed violence. 

To give some idea of the feeling which prevailed in the south part of Eric 
county we quote the language of an agent sent into that (luarter, who repor- 
ted that "all labor is suspended, the whole adult male population meeting at 
taverns and stores, vowing vengeance against the "land sharks," threaten- 
ing to burn their houses, and intimating that assassination will be the con- 
sequence of attempts to enforce the terms proposed by the new purchasers." 
Without dwelling upon further preliminaries it will be sufficient to say 
that the ferment continued to increase until about the 12th of May, when 
intelligence was received that a very large mob from the south part of this 
and Eric counties were gallicring, \vilh the avowed determination of march- 
ing to this place and tearing down the land office, and the jail, {in which 
tvvo of their friends were imprisioned) andofconnuitting other doprcJutiou- 
on some of our citizcni. wlio luid become obnoxious to thcnu 



51 

To know tliai sach an attompi woulA «3 made was cufiicient foi* fllir pco- 
j)lc atonoc to resolve upon the most fin m and united resistance, and accor- 
dingly our public autlioritics both civil and militarj', aided by the citizonp 
made immediate preparations to repel tli D foe. Tlic Land Office was conver- 
ted into a sort of fortification, well store d with arms and amunition, and thus 
matters rested in suspense, not knowin [>■ when the attack would be made, 
until about midnight on the 13th of M ay, when messengers arrived post 
haste from Attica andAlexander giving information that the mob was con- 
■centraiing at the latter place in great for ce, supposed to be from 700 to 1000, 
and that it would soon be upon us. 

No sooner had this intelligence boenr. received than all the bells in the 
village rang the alarm, and a general mi ister of our "fighting" men imme- 
diately followed. Videtts were sent out I )y the sherifi'on the different roads, 
to rcconnoiter the enemy, and men were sent to the arsenal for a sufficient 
supply of muskets to arm all our citizeuLS. Two boxes of ball cartridges of 
1000 each were also brought up, one of wdiich was left at tlie Land Office, 
nnd the other taken to the Court House where the sherifi^ (Nathan Town- 
send) who was the commanding officer on the occasion, held his licadquar- 
tcrs, surrounded by the "cliivalry" o^Iie "village ready for the conflict. — 
What then followed we cannot bette^l.escribe than in the language of a 
letter from D. E. Evans, to J. J. Vander kcmi^, written soon after the event 
and from which we are permitted to make the following extracts: 

"Our force in the Land Office consisting of fifty men, remained patiently 
waiting the arrival of the enemy till about sun rise, and none appearing we 
concluded they had abandoned the enterprise, and we appointed a committee 
to go to Alexander to ascertain what number iiad been there and who their 
leaders were. Col. Seaver, Col. Davis, and myself, (the committee) imme- 
diately started, and meeting Mr. Gary near the bridge took him with us. 
We had proceeded about two miles when wc met two of our expresses re- 
turning at full gallop, wlio told us they had just left the mob at Fargo's 
Tavern, two miles distant, forming in order to march to Batavia. Tlioy es- 
timated tlic wliole number at 700, about 400 of which were armed vvitli fire 
arms, and the residue with bludgeons, crow-bars, and sledge hammers. 

Previous to leaving the office I requested Mr. Chandler to remain at it 
with thirty men, till we cither returned or sent liim positive information that 
the mob had dispersed. On receiving information tiiat the mob had really 
advanced to Fargo's, the committee lost no time in returning, and taking 
such requisite stops to re-assemble the citizens, most of whom had gone 
to tlieir respective homes. The mob soon after appeared in sight and 
halted on the road east of Judge Steven's House, where they were met by 
Gen. Verplanck, and asked what they wanted? They ansvYfcred "to right 
themselves." lie asked in what manner? and was answered, "tliat it was 
none of liis business." He then said it was his duty to inform tliem that 
if tlicy coraniittcd any outrages in an organized l)ody, upon cither public or 



52 

private property, they would be fired upon. Some of them then said they 
wished to have a conference with me, and he promised to inform me of it, 
and came to the office and did so. I desired him to return and say, that I 
positively declined having- any communication whatever with an armed mob. 
Their number he estimated at about five hundred men. 

Soon after he returned they put themselves in motion, crossed the bridge, 
marched towards the office, and Isupposed we should soon come to blows. 
After having halted in front of the office, and become sensible that an at- 
tack upon it would be attended with dapger, it was evident to all specta- 
tors that they felt the awkwardness of their situation. After remaining 
still for a few minutes, four men came under the window in which I was 
silting, and requested a conference with me, which I declined, refusing in a 
peremptory manner to have any thing to do with them, and bid them defi- 
ance in no measured terms. 

About this time I saw a sudden movement among them which I could not 
account for, but which I soon learned was occasioned by the, (to them) un- 
expected appearance of Sheriff" Townsend, with 120 men, armed with bright 
muskets, with bayonets fixed, in full march for the Office, He halted his 
men in front of my house, and advanced himself with three or four atten- 
dants, towards tlie mob, and was met by ||veral of them, lie told them 
his object in meeting them was to say, trat if they attempted to destroy 
any building in the Village, he should, without any further notice, fire a full 
volley among them. One of them was proceeding to argue the legality of 
his doing it, but he cut the matter short by assuring them that he should do 
it whether legal or not, and advised them to be off" very quickly. 

They soon after went down the street half a mile, and had a boisterous 
consultation, some professing to wish to return and attack the Office, but 
by far the greatest part thought it best to go home. Some forty or fifty 
continued on westward, and the residue returned as they came, passing the 
Office without apparently looking at it. The most of them re-crossed the 
Bridge and went off, but a few lurked about the Village, some of whom were 
aprehended and committed to prison, and among the number their reputed 
leader, a man by the name of Hill, a Constable in Holland, Erie County. 

As you may readily imagine, our Village remained for several days, in a 
high stale of excitement. The Military were called out, and two Cannons, 
assigned to Artillery Companys at LeRoy and Bethany, were sent for, and 
brought to the Village, and strong guards, composed of the Villagers only, 
were kept at night, as great aprehensions were entertained that the Vil- 
lage would be set on fire by incendiaries, which was threatened by the mob 
on their retreat, and those threats were reiterated from sections of the Coun- 
try where we had reason to expect better things. Almost all business was at 
a stand in the Village, the Country people being afraid to come to it, and the 
consequence was, the Mercantile men. Tavern-keepers, Grocers, and Median 
ics, became aprehensive that the business of the place would go elsewhere. 



53 » 

It tlierefore became obvious, that c!lhor tho otHco must bo rcmove<l from 
this place, or some moans devised to defend it with a few men, and I de- 
termined on erecting two strong block houses, one on the northeast, and 
the other on the southwest corners. They arc made of solid timber from 
10 to 12 inches thick, and each armed with thirty muskets, and amply 
Bupplied with amunition, and twelve men in each, would drive a mob of 
1000 men from the vicinity of the office in a very short time. I have em- 
plo)'ed four men as a night guard, with directions to keep three of their 
number in the Block-houses, and one on the look-out on tho out side. I 
now consider the office secure. 

After tho mob had taken their departure, and tho citizens their break- 
fast, notice was given that a meeting would be held at the Court House 
to take measures for tho security of the village. At this meeting', Messrs. 
Wm. Seaver, D. H. Chandler, and myself; were appointed a committee of 
safety, the duties of which I found vastly more arduous and unpleasant 
than 1 imagined. Having received positive information that a considerable 
number of persons, residents of Chautauque, Erie, and Genesee counties, 
were passing from town to town, endeavoring to raise another and larger, 
and in every respect more efficient force than the last, we concluded to lay 
the case before the Governor, and ask him to issue a proclamation, not that 
we supposed it would tend to allay the irritation against the new Land Com- 
pany, but satisfy the malcontents, that the state Government was not friend- 
ly to their proceedings, which they had been made to believe. Accor- 
dingly we despatched Dr. Van Tuyl to Albany, deeming it advisable to 
send a person who could give a clear and distinct account of the actual 
etate of the country. 

When the Doctor arrived in Albany the Governor was at Saratoga 
Springs, but returned next day, and very promptly issued the proclamation. 
He also authorized us to retain the tvvo sjx-pounders we had, as long as 
we might want them, sent us two more with a supply of powder and 
round and canister shot, and several thousand musket cartridgcs,and author- 
ized us to take two twelve pounders from the arsenal at Canandaigua. 

The captain of an artillery company in Bennington, by the name of Nor- 
ris, having stated that he and his company and gun, a brass three pound- 
er, were ready at any moments notice, to turn out and attack Batavia, we 
represented the case to the Governor, who immediately directed the com- 
missary General to order Capt. Norris to deliver the gun to the keeper of 
the arsenal at this place, forthwith. The Capt. was very unwilling to obey 
the order, pleading as an excuse that the people in his neighborhood would 
not permit the gufi to be taker, away but on being threatened to have his 
delinquency reported to the commissary general, and told that the conse- 
quence would be very serious to himself, he concluded to bring it.'' 

Having been apprised of our formidable preparations for a determined 
resistance to mobocracy, the malcontents were not slow in coming to the 



wise concliiRion that ''priulcnce was the better part of valor,'" and all fur- 
ther attempts to atlnin their object by violent means, was at once aban- 
doned as utterly hopeless. 

Thus terminated tlic "Ijand Offlce War," and so far as the people of this 
place were concerned, it is but justice to say that they acquitted themselves 
in a manner worthy of all praise. No matter what may liave been their in- 
dividual opinions in regard to the origin of the difficulty, no sooner did they 
know that lawless violence was about to be committed, and that an enfuri- 
ated mob, perhaps with the midnight torch, was preparing to invade us, than 
tlie fire of '76 iiindled in every bosom, and they were prepared to resist, 
even at the price of tlieir blood, the threatened aggression. As the 'Times' 
well said, "never before had we witnessed the interesting spectacle of a 
whole village of peaceful andrpiiet citizens transformed at the moment, and 
l)y a common impulse, from the varied and ordinary pursuits of business 
into efficient citizen soldiers — all, from highest to lowest, actuated by a 
common impulse — that of self-defence at any and every hazard."' The 
affair satisfied us by occular demonstration that there is nothing so potent 
to quell a mob as bull diid bayonet, and sure we are tliat had it not been for 
a fear of those articles in the hands of our resolute citizens, and a perfect 
assurance that they would be used "to kill" in casethe slightest aggression 
liad been committed, the mob would have destroyed at least the Land Of- 
fice and the Jail. 

THE NEW COURT HOUSE. 

In May 1840 when Wyoming formed apart of this county, an act was 
passed by the Legislature, providing for tlie erection of anew Court House 
appointing Walter HubbcU, Joshua A. Spencer, and Amos P. Granger, 
Commissioners to locate the site and authorizing a loan from the state to 
the county, of $10,00U to defray the expense of building. 

IJatavia having always been the county seat for old Genesee, of course 
expected that no change would be made, but being north of the geograph- 
ical centre since the erection of Orleans county, a strong effort was imme- 
diately made by the people in the southern towns, to have the site remo- 
ved to a more central point. The consequence was, another great excite- 
ment, which finally resulted in fixing the location here, but with a tacit 
understanding that tlie people of the )iorthern section would not oppose the 
division of the county, a subject which then began to be seriously agitated. 

Soon after the site was established the Board of Supervisors, at an ex- 
tra session, appointed Paul Richards of Orangeville, and John Tomlinson 
of Jjclloy, as building commissioners, wlio contracted with Elias Pelton, to 
do the mason work, and Ira E. PJiillips and Jonathan Hutchinson, to do the 
wood work. Contracts were made with Knowlton Rich, and Consider 
Warner, of Le Roy to furnish the cut stone, and witli Samuel R. Clifford 
of LeRoy to furnish and ])ut up the pillars, caps fee. of Locki)ort stone. 

In June 1811, soon after the work commenced, the county was divided, 
and Paul Richanls iiaving resigned in consequencenf residing in the new 
County, Pardon C. Sherman, was appointed commissioner in his ])hice.— 
The building, except tlio basement, was comjdeted in 1813, so that the first 
Court was held in it in Feb. of that year. Subsequently Horace U. Soper 
and Moses Taggart were appointed a conunittee to finish tlio county Clerks 
otficc in the basement. The entire csUiblisiiuient when coiupletcd cost 
about $17,000. 

In drawing our sketch towards a close we cannot but revert to tlic past, 
and glance over the changes that have taken place in our village during 
tlic brief period of its existence. It is true they are not so wonderful in 



55 

tlicso (lays of "]jrof»'re.'5a" aa has been wiUicBscd in many other i)laceF, whero 
cities and towns of later date have epriinfif up ahnost in a day, but yet only 
forty-eight years have elapsed since the sound of tiic axe and hammer were 
lirst heard on this plain, and there are those yet living among us who saw 
the first trees bow before the strong arm of the husbandman, and the tirst 
building arise as the germ of this beautiful village. 

Of the early settlers who came to reside here previous to 1810, the fol- 
lowing, so far as we can learn, are all that remain, and who we have ar- 
ranged in the order in which they came, viz: James Brisbane, Mrs. Stevens 
widow of James W. Stevens, David E. Evans, Richard Smith, Mrs. Mar- 
garette Gary wife of Trumbull Gary, Trumbull Gary, Hinman Ilolden, Sam- 
uel G. Ilolden, Nathan Follett, Mrs. Elizabeth Foot, Mrs. Van Gleve, Eb- 
cnczer Mix, Aaron Van Gleve, Simeon Kellogg. 

In 1817, when the writer of this came to the country, the following per- 
sons who resided here at that time, are all that are recollected as still re- 
maining in addition to the above, viz: James P. Smith, Wm. H. Wells, P. 
L. Tracy, Dr. John Cotes, Thos. McCuUy, Eli 11. Fish, David Locke, and 
Robert P. Betts. 

Of all the buildings standing in the village east of the Land Office in 
1820, the following is believed to be all that now remain, viz The old Gourt 
House, Mill, Land Office, II. U. Sopor's house, D. E. Evans house, Mrs. 
Rachel Evans, do., James Brisbane do., the old Judge Stevens house, the 
old Keys Tavern House, the old Brisbane dwelling liouse, S. Grant's store, 
the Gary house, next east of Grant's store. J. MecuUant's grocery store 
formerly II. Gibb's dwelling house, corner of Genesee and Mechanic street. 
The building now occupied by Messrs. Denslow, Ferguson, and Ilurlburt 
originally Hart's store, west of the American Hotel, Trumbull Gary's house, 
Junius Smith's do, the Dr. Ross house now occupied by Rev. B. Sunderland, 
the brick school house, and the small wood building directly in its rear 
wliich was originally the Law office of D. B. Brown, standing on the ground 
now covered by Mechanic's Hall. The old Stoughton house east of Geme- 
try street, the old Van Gleve house, j^ext west of Gemetry street, the old 
Leonard liouse now occupied by John Sprague, the former dwelling liouso 
of P. L. Tracy now standing opposite his Law office, the Dr. Brown Jiousc 
now owned and occupied by Dr. L. B. Gotes, the dwelling now occupied by 
William G. Bryan, Wm. Blossom's house, the old house on Centre street 
opposite C. Kirkham's shop. (This building is the original Tavern house 
built by James McKain at a very early day and stood on the ground now 
occupied by the American Hotel.) The house next soutli of the above, now 
occupied by Mr. Blakeney. (This building originally stood nearly in front 
of H. Wilber's residence east of the brick School House.) Joseph Clark's 
house. A part of the Western Hotel. Finally, the centre part of Wm. 
leaver's dwelling house, in which he now makes this record. Casting his 
eye over the present population he sees a lew, including those above men- 
tioned, who have been inhabitants of the village longer than himself, but 
yet among them all, not one can he recognize, with tlie exception of Mr. 
Gary, as having so long resided in the same house. Under this humble roof 
has he and his been sheltered for very near a quarter of a century, and hero 
he would be content to renrainuntil called to a brighter and more perma- 
nent abode beyond the mutations of time, where he hopes ultimately to meet 
all those dear ones who he has here nourished and cherished. 

In conclusion pcrliaps nothing more appropriate can be presented, especi- 
ally for future reference, than a record of those now engaged in the various 
professions and branches of business in this village. It is possible tlicrc 



.Si-' 



56 

may be soino omissions tlirough mistake, but In tlie main vvc think the list 
will be found nearly correct. 

Ministers. — J. A. BoUes, B. Sunderland, S. M. Stimpson, Allen Steele, 
D. C. Houghton. 

Doctors — John Cotes, L. B. Cotes, U. Ganson, C. E. Ford, J. F. Baker, 
C. D. Griswold, J. Delamater. 

L«(i'yf/-s--Richard Smith, P. L. Tracy, G. W. Lay, H. J. Redfield, B. 
I'rinrjlc", E. C. Diblile, I. A. Verplanck, M. Taggart, J. L. Brown, J. II. 
Martindale, (District Attorney,) H. J. Glowackie, W. G. Bryan, S. Wake- 
man, J. I). Morrill, T. Pitch, M. W. Hewitt, H. Wilber, H. U. Soper, 
(Judge Gen. Co.) J. F. Lay, M. F. Robertson, E. Pringle, B. Young, 
(County Treasurer) J. H. Kimberly. 

Foricardiiig and Commission Merchants — L A Smith, J Foot, J Ganson 
&i,Co. 

n rif- Goods MerclMnts-^Wm H Wells &l Son, Smith Si Warren, G A 
Lay, Nathan T Smith, Thorn k. Ilolden. 

Hardware Merchants — Belden Otis &; Co, R Haney. 

Hotels — American, B G Tisdale, Genesee House, S N Bierce, Western 
Hotel, I Backus, Eagle Tavern, E Hall, Railroad Depot, S Frost, Dutch Tav- 
ern, A Biechel. 

Livery Stable — Ferren h McCormick. 

Cabinet Makers— C Kirkham, C T Buxton, J T Buxton, O Griffith. 

Carpenters and Joiners — O Dustin, R W Craig, D Palmer, J Coleman, 
S Tuttle, J L Gardner, W Lowden, L Knapp Mr Rice, H Graham, J Pal- 
mer, J R Hart, L Earner. 

Blacl-smilhs—F Baxter, A Tyrell, M Kellogg, G W Miller, S Lynn, J 
Clark, J Trumbull & Son. 

Gunsmith — I M Joslyn. 

Saddle tj* Harness Makers — Wm Manley, A J Ensign, J T Carr. 

Masons — T McCully, H Murphy, J Iloiten, D Johnson, A Wilcox. 

(S'/onc Cutter — Fellows &l Co. 

Furnaccmcn — T Hurlburt, J R^mith. 

Baker— B C St O Page. 

Cradle Maker — H Naramor. 

Cooper — Z York. 

Brewer — E H Fish. 

Barbers — J Leonard, D liOonard. 

Bidciiers — R Fowler, R Winn. 

Drus:i^ists and Booksellers — Wm Seaver k. Son, Fellow.-; k Co. 

Grocers — C A Russell, John Wilson, John Kenyon, J McCullanl, Wil- 
c;on Si Austin, S A Wilson, G Knowles, J Si R Eager. 

Jen-ellers — J A Clark, E S Dodge. 

Hatters— li k E M McCormick, P Warner. 

Boot tj- Shoe Store — T Yates, A Joslyn, 11 M Wnrren, Spencer and 
Merrill, M Ru])p J P Phillips, J Baker. 

Milliners— Mrs Denslow, Mrs Blake, Mrs Griffith, Mrs Showerman Si 
llalbcrt. 

Tailors — G B Hurlburt, D Ferguson, J Jordan, J M Royce, Nathan 
i^mith, John Allen, Bicssonger Si Rcbstock. 

Printers — Wm. Seaver fc Son, D. D. Wait. 

Book Jiinders — G Kiesz. 

Painters— ] I W Ashling, Howe Si Barnard, P S Mofiett, E Wooljcy, U 
N Sanlord, W Mclntyre. 

Carriage Makers— J Clark, G W Miller A Peck. 



3477-125 



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